Traffic still climbing (31 October 2006)


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Langen, 31 October 2006

Traffic still climbing

More than 2.25 million aircraft movements so far this year
The volume of air traffic in Germany continues to rise in 2006. A total of 2,258,297 aircraft movements have already been controlled by DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH in the first three quarters of 2006. This represents an increase of four per cent over the previous year. The three-million mark in aircraft movements controlled by DFS is set to be passed this year. In 2005, DFS controllers handled almost 2.9 million flights.

Flights in the third quarter of 2006
In the third quarter of 2006, air traffic controllers handled 820,000 aircraft movements, an increase of four per cent over the same period in 2005. Half of all flights took off for or came from countries outside Germany, while one third crossed Germany given its central location in the heart of Europe. The remainder were domestic flights. Germany has the highest traffic volume in Europe.

Take-offs and landings in the third quarter of 2006
Frankfurt Airport, the largest airport in Germany, recorded a slight decrease in take-offs and landings over 2005 (-1.4 per cent). Munich Airport, the second largest airport in Germany, grew by 3.2 per cent in the same period. The Berlin airports of Tegel, Schönefeld and Tempelhof boasted a growth rate of 3.5 per cent. Düsseldorf Airport also noted a plus of 6.5 per cent, while Hamburg Airport experienced as much as 8.7 per cent growth.

The busiest day in the first three quarters of 2006 was 10 July. In German airspace, 10,137 aircraft movements were controlled on this day. As a comparison, 9,484 aircraft movements were handled on the busiest day of the first three quarters of 2005.

At Frankfurt Airport, 1,352 flights were controlled on average every day this year. Frankfurt Tower had its busiest day on 21 June with 1,483 flights. In Munich, the busiest day was 5 July with 1,457 flights. At this airport, 1,135 flights on average are controlled every day.

DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH is a State-owned company under private law and has 5,200 employees. DFS ensures the safe and punctual handling of flights. Staff coordinate around 10,000 aircraft movements in German airspace every day, and more than three million movements every year. With this large number of flights, Germany has the highest traffic volume in Europe. DFS operates control centres in Langen, Bremen, Karlsruhe and Munich. In addition, DFS is represented in the Eurocontrol Centre in Maastricht, the Netherlands, and in the control towers of the 16 international German airports. DFS provides training and consultancy services around the world and develops and sells air traffic control, surveillance and navigation systems. The company's portfolio also comprises flight-relevant data, aeronautical publications and aeronautical information services. DFS has the following business units: Control Centre, Tower, Aeronautical Solutions and Aeronautical Information Management.


15/01/2009	PRINT