Long queues in the terminals, missing suitcases at the holiday destination: That shouldn’t be repeated again this summer. That is why there is a lot of investment in the largest German aviation hub in Frankfurt.
The CEO of the airport operator Fraport, Stefan Schulte, is confident for this summer. According to Frankfurt Airport, the first wave of travel this year was handled without any difficulties. There were no chaotic conditions around Easter that passengers complained about last year. And that gives hope for the summer holiday months.
At today’s Annual General Meeting of Fraport AG, Schulte explained in detail how and where the airport operator is investing. Since the beginning of the year, Fraport has taken over control of the security checks from the Federal Police. And that creates “more freedom in the modernization of safety technology,” said Schulte in his speech for the Annual General Meeting, which was again held entirely online.
passenger screening with CT scanner
“We now have seven new types of CT scanners in use,” said Airport Manager Schulte. “At these checkpoints, our passengers benefit from the fact that they no longer have to unpack technical devices and liquids.” As a result, many more passengers can be checked per day than before – “without compromising on security.”
Four more CT scanners are currently being installed, and four more in July. “We will maintain the high pace,” said the airport manager. First of all, Departure Area A in Terminal 1 is to be completely equipped with the modern CT scanners by this summer. “All in all, we plan to use 40 CT scanners in the terminals by the middle of next year at the latest.”
Since March of this year, passengers have also been able to book a time slot for the security checkpoints at Frankfurt Airport. The offer, which is still in a test phase, is being used extensively by customers.
Hybrid check-in counters
40 new baggage drop-off points in Hall B in Terminal 1 should also provide relief. 20 hybrid check-in counters will be used there by the summer. Passengers can use these counters 24 hours a day. “In addition, the new counters are already equipped for biometric ID procedures,” says Schulte.
Klaus Nieding, Vice President of the German Protection Association for Securities Ownership (DSW), wanted to know from the Fraport boss how the new situation at the security checks was affecting customer satisfaction. However, there was no answer for this year. Schulte only had the previous year’s figures from customer surveys and personal experiences ready. He asked Nieding to ask again next year.
More staff
In addition to improved technical equipment, Germany’s largest airport still needs new staff to deal with aircraft handling on the apron. However, the German job market is “almost empty, especially among people with previous qualifications,” reports the CEO. And so Fraport is now recruiting new employees, primarily from other EU countries.
“Due to the very low level of qualifications available on the labor market, we have significantly expanded our training capacities,” says Schulte. And so some new employees are already being trained abroad. They learn the German language there and can get a car driver’s license. Fraport also wants to compensate for the number of missing loadmasters by the summer.
The number of trips continues to increase
The corona pandemic seems to be leaving Fraport more and more behind. This is also shown by the annual balance sheet figures for 2022. After travel restrictions were lifted, the number of private travelers in particular rose sharply from March last year.
“Monthly growth rates of up to 300 percent are pleasing from a business point of view, but they have shown us clear operational limits in Frankfurt,” Schulte sums up. Last year, 48.9 million passengers used Frankfurt Airport. In the record year 2019, there were more than 70 million passengers.