Frankfurt airport caps flights to ‘stabilise’ operations

Frankfurt airport has change into the newest main European hub to limit flights to permit it to deal with elevated passenger numbers.

Fraport, which operates the German airport, has decreased the variety of take-offs and landings to 88 actions per hour from this week to “stabilise” flight operators.

The transfer comes after comparable bulletins from London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Amsterdam Schiphol airports, which have all capped capability this summer season as they wrestle to deal with elevated passengers and a scarcity of workers following the pandemic.

Jens Ritter, CEO of Lufthansa Airways, welcomed Fraport’s determination to cap the variety of flights from Frankfurt airport this summer season.

“In current weeks, we have now already cancelled flights in a number of waves to alleviate the general system,” stated Ritter. 

“Because the already elevated capacities of the bottom dealing with companies in Frankfurt are nonetheless not ample resulting from a excessive illness absence fee, even for the flight schedule that has already been decreased a number of instances, the choice taken by Fraport is true. 

“Different airways flying to and from Frankfurt will now additionally contribute to a good discount and stabilisation with flight cancellations.”

Frankfurt catered for 5 million passengers in June, its busiest month because the begin of the pandemic and a 181 per cent enhance in contrast with June 2021. Though the airport’s passenger site visitors final month was nonetheless 24.1 per cent decrease than in June 2019.

Fraport’s CEO Stefan Schulte stated: “This demonstrates the robust momentum driving air journey demand. We sincerely remorse that, throughout peak site visitors intervals, our passengers in Frankfurt might at the moment expertise prolonged wait instances within the terminals, together with on the baggage reclaim. 

“We’re working laborious with all our companions to make sure that, within the medium time period, we will once more present the standard requirements anticipated by our passengers.”