Hesse's Finance Minister R. Alexander Lorz has been elected as the new Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Fraport AG. The election took place on May 12, 2026, during the board's inaugural meeting, immediately following the airport operator's Annual General Meeting.
Lorz takes over from Michael Boddenberg, who chaired the supervisory board for six years and stepped down from the oversight body at the end of the meeting. The change at the top of the board comes at a time when Frankfurt Airport has significantly expanded its capacity with the opening of the new Terminal 3 and aims to consolidate its position in the international air transport market.
In his inaugural address, Lorz underscored the strategic importance of Frankfurt as a central pillar of Germany's infrastructure and the largest local employer. He emphasized that the competitiveness of the German economy is directly linked to the efficiency of its transport hubs. In addition to Frankfurt as the company's home base, the new Chairman of the Supervisory Board highlighted the group's global expansion. Fraport currently operates 28 other airports on four continents, making it one of the world's leading players in the industry. In this context, Lorz called for an aviation policy that takes into account fierce international competition and creates reliable framework conditions for future investments.
The change in personnel at the top of the supervisory board is seen by industry experts as a signal of continuity in the close relationship between the state of Hesse and the airport operator. As finance minister, Lorz brings extensive experience in budgetary and economic policy, which will be important for the company's upcoming strategic decisions. Among the new chairman's key tasks will be to further increase the operational efficiency of the Frankfurt location while simultaneously expanding international holdings in growth markets. Fraport AG faces the challenge of maintaining its attractiveness to international airlines despite rising operating costs and regulatory requirements.
Alongside the election of the Supervisory Board Chairman, the Annual General Meeting reviewed a fiscal year characterized by a further recovery in passenger numbers and a stabilization of the freight business. Shareholder representatives welcomed the new appointments but simultaneously urged a consistent commitment to innovation in order to secure the technological lead over other European hubs. With the completion of major infrastructure projects at the Frankfurt location, the focus is now shifting more strongly to the digital transformation of handling processes and the optimization of ground handling services.