Germany's largest commercial airport, Frankfurt am Main, had a total of 2023 million travelers in the recently completed year 59,4. In a direct comparison with the previous period, the increase was 21,3 percent, but it was 15,9 percent below the value that Fraport AG was able to achieve in 2019.

“2023 was another challenging year for the aviation industry, particularly in Europe. In addition to the ongoing war in Ukraine, there were also airspace restrictions due to the NATO exercise 'Air Defender', which was carried out in Germany. The complex and interconnected system of international air transport was also disrupted by a series of strikes in 2023, including strikes by French air traffic controllers. Despite these disruptions and in joint efforts with our system partners, we managed to further stabilize operations in Frankfurt last year. Our traffic performance for 2023 clearly shows that demand is recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic and people's desire to travel remains unbroken. That’s why I’m optimistic for the new year 2024,” explains Fraport boss Stefan Schulte.

Flight movements in Frankfurt rose by 2023 percent to 12,6 take-offs and landings in 430.436 compared to the previous year (comparison to 2019: minus 16,2 percent). The cumulative maximum take-off weights (MTOW) also increased by 11,4 percent to around 27 million tons compared to the previous year (comparison to 2019: minus 15,3 percent). Freight throughput (consisting of air freight and air mail) in FRA fell by 2023 percent to around 3,9 million tons in 1,9 compared to the previous year (comparison to 2019: minus 9,3 percent). Contributing to this slowdown were, among other things, airspace restrictions across Europe and the sluggish economy as a result of global geopolitical uncertainties.

Growth in December 2023

In December 2023, around 4,6 million passengers traveled through Frankfurt Airport. This figure represents an increase of 15,2 percent compared to December 2022 and is just six percentage points below pre-Covid 2019 levels. Passenger volumes in December 2023 recorded the strongest growth since the pandemic and recovered to 94 percent of the pre-crisis level. Flight movements rose by 2023 percent to 11,2 takeoffs and landings in December 33.534 compared to the previous year. Cumulative MTOW increased 10,8 percent to nearly 2,2 million tons.

Freight volumes also remained positive and rose by 2023 percent to 7,2 tons in December 171.118 compared to the previous year. As in previous years, freight benefited from increased demand during the Christmas period.

Fraport Group airports worldwide with significant increase in traffic

Most airports in Fraport's international portfolio recorded an increase in traffic in 2023. The frontrunner in 2023 is the Slovenian Ljubljana Airport, whose traffic volume has increased by 30,9 percent to around 1,3 million passengers compared to the previous year (comparison to 2019: minus 26,2 percent). In December 2023, LJU counted 87.378 passengers (plus 44,4 percent compared to the previous year).

Fraport's 14 Greek regional airports recorded traffic growth of 2023 percent in 11,8 compared to the previous year to a total of around 33,9 million passengers (comparison to 2019: plus 12,3 percent). In December 2023, Greek airports handled a total of 754.184 passengers (up 12,7 percent compared to the previous year).

On the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, the Fraport Twin Star airports Burgas (BOJ) and Varna (VAR) also developed positively in 2023. Combined traffic in BOJ and VAR increased by 17,9 percent to around 3,7 million passengers compared to the previous year (comparison to 2019: minus 25,8 percent). In December 2023, BOJ and VAR recorded a 13,1 percent year-on-year decline to a total of 90.473 passengers.

The traffic volume at Antalya Airport (AYT) on the Turkish Riviera increased by 2023 percent to around 15,0 million passengers in 35,7 compared to the previous year (comparison to 2019: plus 0,7 percent). In December 2023, AYT welcomed around 1,0 million passengers (up 9,3 percent year-on-year). The Brazilian airports of Fortaleza (FOR) and Porto Alegre (POA) recorded a combined increase in traffic volume of 2023 percent in 5,2 compared to the previous year to around 13,1 million passengers (comparison to 2019: minus 15,7 percent). The number of passengers at FOR and POA fell by 2023 percent to around 0,6 million in December 1,1.

The traffic volume at Lima Airport (LIM) in the Peruvian capital grew by 2023 percent in 14,1 compared to the previous year to around 21,3 million passengers (comparison to 2019: minus 10,1 percent). In December 2023, around 2,0 million passengers used the LIM (plus 14,0 percent compared to the previous year).