TÜV Pfalz Doubts Findings of SFK Accident Commission

Fraport AG: TÜV Pfalz' Statement Confirms Our Objective Criticism of the SFK Opinion

Frankfurt am Main - TÜV Pfalz (the technical inspection agency of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany) criticized the recent report of the SFK Accident Commission as not being verifiable in parts. The SFK found that the planned new landing runway at Frankfurt Airport is allegedly incompatible with the nearby Ticona chemical plant. "The SFK's opinion on the expansion of Frankfurt Airport contains statements and assessments which were not substantiated by verifiable arguments or alternative calculations, and not even by any references to such calculations," said TÜV Pfalz in its report commissioned by the Hesse Ministry of Economics, Transportation and State Development (HMWVL). For example, TÜV Pfalz criticizes the SKF's allegation that an airplane crashing on the Ticona site "would inevitably result in a major hazard." According to TÜV Pfalz, "a statement in this general form cannot be substantiated." Rather, the technical inspection agency believes that "removing potential dangers such as hazardous materials from the Ticona site (ethylene condenser station, methanol storage tanks) will totally eliminate any potential hazard."

Fraport AG considers the TÜV statement to be a confirmation of the company's objective criticism of the SFK report. Fraport had found flagrant shortcomings and discrepancies in the SFK report and had criticized the SFK for not answering important questions posed by Fraport. As in the past, Fraport expects that compatibility of the new northwest landing runway and Ticona chemical plant can be achieved if specific measures are adopted. TÜV Pfalz' statement on the SFK report makes it clear that Fraport's criticism of the SFK opinion was fully justified and necessary.

Contact:

For More Information,

Please Contact:

Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide

Robert A. Payne - Manager International

Press & PR 60547

Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Tel.: +49.69.690.78547;

Fax: +49.69.690.60548

E-mail: r.payne@fraport.de;

Internet: www.fraport.de