O-STA

Fraport Traffic Figures - March 2004: New Record Month at FRA: 154,248 Metric Tons of Airfreight - 9.1 Percent More Passengers

Frankfurt/Main, Germany (ots) - First Quarter 2004 Passenger and Cargo Figures at Record Level

Traffic at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) again experienced above average growth during the month of March 2004. FRA (FSE: FRA) welcomed more than 4.1 million passengers in the reporting month, 9.1 percent more than in March 2003. In particular, Frankfurt Airport recorded above average growth rates for traffic to and from the Middle East, North Africa, North America and the Far East. Showing double-figure growth rates, Eastern Europe traffic continued to be marked by the positive spirit caused by the upcoming EU expansion. This even benefited some neighboring countries who are not joining the EU, such as Bulgaria, Rumania and Russia. In the first quarter of 2004, FRA served approximately 11.3 million passengers or 6.8 percent more than in the same period last year.

Cargo volume at FRA reached a new historic high in March 2004. Never before in Frankfurt Airport's history was more cargo handled in a single month: a total of 154,248 metric tons (7.3 percent more than in the same month last year). The major growth factor was the increase in cargo tonnage on intercontinental routes. In particular, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa boomed with double-digit growth rates. For the January-to-March 2004 three-month period, FRA's airfreight volume climbed 7.8 percent to 406,570 metric tons.

Passenger and cargo volumes in the first quarter of 2004 exceeded the record levels of the first quarter in 2001. At that time, about 11 million passengers and almost 381,000 metric tons of cargo were registered. Airmail tonnage continued to decline in the reporting month - mainly due to the continuing impact of service reductions in the domestic overnight hub-and-spoke airmail network at FRA. This represented a decline of 10,712 metric tons, or 6.9 percent, from March 2003. Frankfurt Airport registered 39,240 takeoffs and landings in March 2004, nearly the same number as in March 2003. Maximum takeoff weights (MTOWs) rose by two percent to more than 2.2 million metric tons.

The current development proves that the impact of critical events on world traffic are always offset and even overcompensated after a relatively short period. In the first two weeks of April 2004, FRA's passenger and cargo traffic continued to increase at high rates. Therefore, we can expect sustained recovery and noticeable growth of international air traffic at FRA - provided there will be no new terrorist attacks, further wars will be avoided, and the world economy will see sustained recovery and stabilization.

The six airports of the Fraport Group together registered about 5.6 million passengers in the reporting month, 12.6 percent more than in March 2003. With about 215,000 passengers, Frankfurt Hahn Airport (HHN) registered a 19.9 percent increase in passenger traffic. With about 404,000 passengers, Antalya Airport (AYT) achieved 53.9 percent growth compared to the same period last year. Traffic at Hanover Airport (HAJ) increased by 13.8 percent to about 454,000 passengers and at Lima Airport (LIM) by 15 percent to about 421,000 passengers. Cargo throughput for the Fraport Group amounted to over 192,000 metric tons, 8.7 percent more than in the same month last year. The Fraport Group's airports registered a total of 59,755 takeoffs and landings, 1.1 percent more than in the same month last year.

In the first quarter of 2004, some 15.2 million passengers used the Fraport Group's airports, 9.8 percent more than in the corresponding quarter of 2003. In addition, about 514,000 metric tons of cargo (up 8.1 percent) were handled and 166,205 takeoffs and landings (up 1.1 percent) registered during the January-to-March 2004 period.

ANR 26/2004 - Frankfurt Airport's Traffic Figures - March 2004

March 2004Change (2) Mar. 04/ Mar. 03Jan. - Mar. 2004Change 2 Jan. - Mar. 04/03
Passengers (1)4,107,5779.1 %11,286,1436.8 %
Airfreight (1) in metric tons154,2487.3 %406,5707.8 %
Airmail in metric tons10,712-6.9 %31,495-7.2 %
Aircraft Movements (3)39,2400.0 %112,1560.2 %
MTOWs (3) in metric tons2,202,7572.0 %6,256,2951.9 %
Punctuality share of punctual arrivals and departures in percent76.474.0

(1) Total traffic (arrivals + departures + transit, incl. general aviation)

(2) Change over previous year

(3) Excluding military flights

ANR 16/2004 - Fraport Group - Traffic Figures for March 2004

AirportsPassengers(1) absoluteChange in %Airfreight in metric tons (incl. Airmail)Change in %
Frankfurt4,106,8679.1162,2166.0
Antalya(2)403,68753.9n.a.n.a.
Hahn(3)214,79619.917,34428.2
Hanover454,09513.81,38813.9
Lima420,95415.011,04624.8
Saarbrücken28,4989.32-83.3
Fraport Group5,628,89712.6191,9968.7

AirportsAircraft Movements absoluteChange in %
Frankfurt39,2400.0
Antalya(2)2,52928.9
Hahn (3)2,7829.3
Hanover7,539-8.2
Lima6,45810.6
Saarbrücken1,207-7.7
Fraport Group59,7551.1

(1) Passengers (commercial traffic: arrivals + departures + transit)

(2) International passengers and movements only

(3) Hahn cargo (incl. cargo transported by truck)