Frankfurt To Get Fourth Runway With Limits

Date added: 16 January, 2009

16.1.2009 (Aviation Week)

Jens Flottau /Frankfurt jflottau@freenet.de

Frankfurt’s international airport has been cleared for expansion by Hesse’s Administrative
Supreme Court.

The airport can soon begin to build a fourth runway north of the current airport
perimeter with an opening date of 2012. But Fraport and main operator Lufthansa
also have to deal with the court’s preliminary statement that the planned night
flight restrictions are not far reaching enough.

Frankfurt airport has been trying to expand for many years. Its growth rates
have been below industry average because of the capacity limits. Lufthansa transferred
a significant part of its long-haul growth to Munich, now its second hub. The
fourth runway will only be used for landings to take into account noise abatement.
It will nevertheless enable the airport to increase hourly movements from around
80 to over 120.

Ground work is planned to begin as soon as early February, according to Fraport
plans. The airport also wants to open a third main terminal on the South side
of the airport in 2012. It is not clear yet who will use the facility, but Lufthansa
is expected to remain in the main terminal 1.

A final decision on the night curfew will be made separately. But the court indicated
that it will likely not uphold the currently planned regulation. The regional
government wanted to allow 17 movements between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. in spite of
the fact that in a previous agreement with communities it had promised a total
ban on night flights. Lufthansa has applied for a total of 41 nightly movements,
mainly for its subsidiary Lufthansa Cargo.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said that while it welcomed
the decision to expand, “severe restrictions on night flights constrain international
cargo operations and will hurt economic growth. This should be reconsidered in
a future court ruling.”

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Date: 16 January 2009

Geneva – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) today welcomed the
decision of the Hessen State Court to approve the construction of a fourth runway
and Terminal 3 at Frankfurt’s Rhein-Main Airport.

"This is an important decision for Germany because a strong, competitive aviation
sector with the right infrastructure supports employment and economic growth,"
said Giovanni Bisignani, Director General and CEO of IATA. "However, while the
decision on expansion is welcomed, the proposed restriction on night flights is
not. Frankfurt is a global hub that needs global connectivity. Severe restrictions
on night flights constrain international cargo operations and will hurt economic
growth. This should be reconsidered in a future court ruling."

"Aviation takes its environmental responsibilities seriously with a vision for
carbon-neutral growth en-route to a carbon-free future," said Bisignani. "Our
track record is good. Aircraft are 70% more fuel-efficient and 75% quieter than
they were 40 years ago. And the global fleet is getting even quieter and more
fuel efficient. In the first 11 months of 2008 1,037 new aircraft – with improved
fuel efficiencies of 20-30% – were delivered while 881 inefficient old aircraft
were parked. All of these improvements will contribute to a 4.5% drop in emissions
in 2009 and minimise the environmental impact of aviation in Frankfurt and worldwide
in the future."

http://www.iata.org/pressroom/pr/2009-01-16-02.htm

Frankfurt To Get Fourth Runway With Limits

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