Frankfurt Airport sees steady recovery but eyes 2030 carbon-neutral push
Fraport has reported steady recovery in passenger numbers at Frankfurt Airport, though traffic remains below pre-pandemic levels. The company also outlined ambitious climate targets, aiming to slash CO₂ emissions by 2030. Meanwhile, hiring plans and financial results signal cautious optimism for the year ahead.
In February 2023, Frankfurt Airport served 3.4 million passengers—a 25 percent drop compared to the same month in 2019. Despite this, Fraport anticipates a summer surge, with passenger growth of 15 to 25 percent over 2022 figures. By the end of 2023, the company expects to handle around 63 million travellers, reaching roughly 90 percent of 2019 levels.
Financially, Fraport recorded a net profit of €166.6 million in 2022, still far below the €454.3 million earned in 2019. CEO Dr. Stefan Schulte expressed satisfaction with the results, highlighting strong demand in private air travel across the group’s international airports.
On sustainability, Fraport plans to cap annual CO₂ emissions at 50,000 tons by 2030, with a long-term goal of carbon-neutral operations by 2045. The citizens' initiative PRO Flughafen welcomed these efforts, though no spokesperson was named in available reports.
Staffing is also expanding, with Fraport employing 19,211 people as of December 2022—an eight percent rise from 2021. This year, the company aims to hire around 1,500 new ground handling workers to support growing operations.
Fraport’s recovery continues, with passenger numbers climbing but not yet matching 2019 peaks. The company’s hiring push and emission targets reflect both operational growth and environmental commitments. Financial performance, while improved, still lags behind pre-pandemic benchmarks.
