In 2023, Fraport, the operator of Frankfurt Airport (FRA), reported encouraging traffic figures as passenger demand continued its recovery. The airport witnessed a notable surge, with a total of 59.4 million passengers traveling through FRA during the year, reflecting an impressive year-on-year increase of 21.3 percent. This positive momentum was particularly fueled by heightened holiday travel, showcasing a resilient rebound in the aviation sector. The robust growth in passenger numbers underscores Frankfurt Airport’s role as a key hub, contributing to the ongoing revival of global air travel.
Fraport Traffic Figures 2023: Passenger Demand Continues Recovery at Frankfurt Airport
Throughout 2023, Frankfurt Airport (FRA) experienced a noteworthy resurgence in passenger demand, with a total of 59.4 million travelers passing through Germany’s largest aviation hub, marking a substantial 21.3 percent increase compared to the previous year. Despite this positive momentum, it is important to note that the passenger figures for 2023 still lagged behind the pre-crisis levels of 2019 by 15.9 percent.
Dr. Stefan Schulte, the CEO of Fraport, acknowledged the challenges faced by the aviation industry in Europe during the year, citing factors such as the ongoing war in Ukraine, airspace restrictions due to the ‘Air Defender’ NATO exercise, and disruptive strikes by French air traffic controllers. Despite these hurdles, Schulte emphasized the successful collaborative efforts with system partners to stabilize operations at Frankfurt. The increased aircraft movements by 12.6 percent and accumulated maximum takeoff weights by 11.4 percent signify a positive trajectory, albeit not fully recovering to 2019 levels. Meanwhile, FRA’s cargo throughput experienced a 3.9 percent decline in 2023, influenced by airspace restrictions in Europe and a sluggish global economy. In light of these challenges, Schulte remains optimistic about the aviation industry’s recovery in 2024, as evident in the sustained demand for travel demonstrated throughout 2023.
December 2023: FRA sees strong traffic growth
In December 2023, Frankfurt Airport witnessed the travel of approximately 4.6 million passengers, indicating a notable increase of 15.2 percent compared to December 2022. Despite this surge, the figure remained merely six percentage points below the pre-Covid levels of 2019. Consequently, December 2023 showcased the most robust growth in passenger traffic since the onset of the pandemic, rebounding to 94 percent of pre-crisis levels.
The month also saw a considerable uptick in aircraft movements, rising by 11.2 percent year-on-year to reach 33,534 takeoffs and landings. Additionally, accumulated Maximum Takeoff Weights (MTOWs) experienced a 10.8 percent increase, reaching nearly 2.2 million metric tons. The positive trend extended to cargo operations, with a 7.2 percent year-on-year rise, totaling 171,118 metric tons in December 2023. This growth in cargo, consistent with previous years, was attributed to heightened demand during the festive Christmas period.
Fraport’s global Group airports report significant traffic increase
Throughout 2023, numerous airports within Fraport’s international portfolio experienced substantial increases in traffic. Notably, Ljubljana Airport in Slovenia emerged as a standout performer, witnessing a remarkable 30.9 percent year-on-year surge, accommodating approximately 1.3 million passengers, although still trailing 2019 levels by 26.2 percent. In December 2023 alone, LJU recorded 87,378 passengers, reflecting an impressive 44.4 percent year-on-year increase.
Fraport’s 14 regional airports in Greece collectively registered an 11.8 percent year-on-year growth in 2023, serving a total of around 33.9 million passengers. December 2023 saw Greek airports handle 754,184 passengers, marking a 12.7 percent increase compared to the previous year.
On the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, Fraport’s Twin Star airports, Burgas (BOJ) and Varna (VAR), displayed positive performance in 2023, with combined traffic rising by 17.9 percent year-on-year to reach approximately 3.7 million passengers. In December 2023, BOJ and VAR reported a slight dip of 13.1 percent year-on-year, totaling 90,473 passengers.
Meanwhile, Antalya Airport (AYT) on the Turkish Riviera exhibited a noteworthy 15.0 percent year-on-year traffic increase in 2023, hosting around 35.7 million passengers. December 2023 alone saw AYT welcome about 1.0 million passengers, reflecting a 9.3 percent year-on-year upswing.
In Brazil, the combined traffic at Fortaleza (FOR) and Porto Alegre (POA) airports experienced a 5.2 percent year-on-year gain in 2023, totaling approximately 13.1 million passengers, although still below 2019 levels by 15.7 percent. For December 2023, passenger numbers at FOR and POA dipped by a marginal 0.6 percent, reaching around 1.1 million.
Lastly, Lima Airport (LIM) in Peru’s capital city displayed a robust 14.1 percent year-on-year traffic growth in 2023, handling approximately 21.3 million passengers, with around 2.0 million passengers recorded in December 2023, marking a 14.0 percent year-on-year increase.
