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FRA/rap-th> Frankfurt Airport (FRA) reported a good start to the 2008 year, with passenger traffic surging ahead by 3.7 percent. A total of 3,957,951 passengers used the FRA international air transportation hub last month – more than in any previous January. The airport also achieved monthly records in airfreight, aircraft movements, and accumulated maximum takeoff weights (MTOWs) at the beginning of the year.

Reaching 156,020 metric tons, airfreight throughput grew by 4.6 percent in January 2008. FRA also enjoyed a 2.8 percent gain in airmail tonnage to 8,100 metric tons. The number of aircraft movements climbed by 0.7 percent to 38,115 takeoffs and landings. MTOWs increased by 1.7 percent to 2,214,143 metric tons.

A 4.6 percent rise in European traffic proved to be the major force driving growth in FRA's passenger figures. Migration of Cologne/Bonn air services to the rail network resulted in the expansion of other flight offerings. Moreover, special rates initiated by the traditional scheduled airlines in response to competition from low-cost carriers further stimulated demand.

At the same time, intercontinental traffic experienced 3.6 percent growth. Jumping by 43.5 percent, South America achieved the strongest growth rate in the intercontinental sector, thanks to numerous new flight connections. Results were also noticeable from the 5.4 percent increase in flight offerings to the North American market. 

The Fraport Group's six majority-owned airports (Frankfurt, Frankfurt-Hahn, Antalya, Lima, Burgas and Varna) served a total of 5,190,131 passengers in January 2008 – 3.9 percent more than in the same month last year. Lima Airport (LIM) in Peru welcomed 674,368 passengers (up 22.6 percent). Traffic at Burgas Airport (BOJ) rose by 323.2 percent to 6,538 passengers, while Varna Airport (VAR) – Fraport's second airport in Bulgaria – reported a three percent gain to 15,351 passengers.  Fraport's terminals at Antalya Airport (AYT) in Turkey saw traffic dip by nine percent to 310,512 passengers. Frankfurt-Hahn (HHN) recorded 225,726 passengers (down 16.2 percent).  

Total cargo (airfreight and airmail) tonnage at Fraport's majority-owned airports increased by 7.8 percent in January 2008 to 191,719 metric tons. The number of aircraft movements climbed by 3.8 percent to 52,821 takeoffs and landings.