Airport operator Fraport sets stricter climate goal
Fraport has stepped up its climate efforts across its global network of airports. The company now aims for carbon neutrality at Frankfurt Airportâand its other major hubsâby 2045, without relying on offset schemes. New targets and wide-ranging sustainability measures have been introduced since 2023 to cut emissions sharply in the coming decades.
Frankfurt Airportâs emissions have already fallen from over 300,000 metric tons in 2001 to around 116,000 in 2022. The latest plan tightens the 2030 goal further, capping annual COâ output at 50,000 metric tonsâdown from the previous 75,000-ton target. To reach this, Fraport is rolling out upgrades like LED lighting, heat pumps, and digital energy monitoring across terminals, runways, and ground operations.
The push extends beyond Frankfurt. At its 14 Greek airports and majority-owned sites in Lima, Burgas, Varna, Ljubljana, Fortaleza, and Porto Alegre, similar steps are underway. These include solar panel installations, electric vehicle fleets, and charging networks for ground equipment. Waste reduction, water-saving systems, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) programmes have also been introduced. Operational changes play a key role too. Airlines are encouraged to use single-engine taxiing and optimised descent approaches to cut fuel burn. Meanwhile, Fraport is replacing fossil-fuel heating with low-carbon alternatives and securing green energy contracts. Regular reporting and science-based targets keep progress on track. The 2045 neutrality pledge covers all Fraport-managed airports, not just its German base. Offsetting will only address residual emissions, with direct reductions taking priority through technology and efficiency gains.
Fraportâs updated strategy combines stricter short-term targets with long-term neutrality goals. The focus remains on direct emission cuts through renewable energy, electrification, and smarter infrastructure. By 2045, the company plans to eliminate ground-based carbon emissions at Frankfurt and its other airportsâwithout depending on offsets.
