DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH (DFS) and Fraport AG, the operator of Frankfurt Airport, have created a refined operational concept for operating direction 25 (west) that will meet the expected increase in traffic in the coming years. The current flight routes will remain in place, and the southerly bypass will also remain part of the refined operational concept. In future, flexible traffic management should enable the northwest departure routes to be used more frequently during traffic peaks. The work is not yet complete.
Yesterday, DFS and Fraport presented the refined operational concept to representatives of districts, cities and municipalities. This concept forms the basis for the redefinition of the noise abatement zone for Frankfurt Airport, which is currently under review. The basis for this is the traffic volumes expected in the base year 2033. Accordingly, DFS and Fraport are already working on a solution that will ensure safe, stable and sustainable operations in future in view of the forecast traffic growth.
The refined operational concept will be applied from a capacity value of 110 aircraft movements per hour at the latest. This is where the current operational concept will reach its limits. This is already apparent today at peak traffic times, i.e. with a capacity value of 104 movements plus two per hour.
When working on the refined operational concept, both companies are pursuing the goal of adhering as closely as possible to the current concept and minimising the impact of noise in the region. The work is not yet fully complete. All planned measures will be discussed and prepared with the responsible committees and institutions in the coming months. These include the Noise Abatement Commission (FLK), the Hessian Ministry of Transport (HMWVW) and the Federal Supervisory Authority for Air Navigation Services (BAF). DFS and Fraport expect the noise abatement zone to be redefined at the end of 2026.
Refined operational concept: northwest routes are advantageous
To date, aircraft taking off from the central runway have primarily used the southerly bypass, which has been in place since the northwest runway went into operation. In recent years, there have been significant changes to the key framework conditions compared with those in the plan approval procedure for the expansion of Frankfurt Airport. These limit the capacity of the southerly bypass. One example is that take-offs from the central runway via the southerly bypass are not possible independent of take-offs from runway 18. The effects are already reducing the arrival and departure capacity today and would prevent the smooth handling of the expected traffic volumes in future.
Departures in a north-westerly direction show lower dependencies. This is also where modern performance-based navigation (PBN) pays off, as it has 'unravelled' the procedures for missed approaches and take-offs.
The refined operational concept is based on this: It provides for more frequent departures via the northwest departure routes during peak periods. It does not involve any new departure routes. The southerly bypass remains part of the refined operational concept and will continue to be used in hours with lower demand for capacity. The northwest departure routes are already being used during traffic peaks or to comply more reliably with the night curfew.
DFS and Fraport assume that the refined operational concept will be necessary from a capacity value of 110 aircraft movements per hour at the latest. Based on present knowledge, the concept offers the potential to reduce the overall number of people affected by noise in the region compared to the current operational concept and to enable further noise abatement measures.
The executive boards of DFS and Fraport issue the following statements
"We expect an increase in traffic volume at Frankfurt Airport in the long term," said Dr Pierre Dominique Prümm, Executive Director Aviation and Infrastructure at Fraport AG. "There are already capacity bottlenecks during traffic peaks, when the northwest departure routes are increasingly used. That is why we will need the refined operational concept at the latest when the capacity value of 110 flight movements per hour is reached. Together with our partner DFS, we are creating the basis for safe, stable and sustainable operations in future, taking into account all the requirements of the plan approval for the expansion of the airport. During the refinement of the operational concept, we took great care to keep the deviations from the existing operational concept as low as possible and to minimise the noise impact on the region."
"DFS supports the growth of Frankfurt Airport. Together, we have examined various options with Fraport. The new operational concept uses existing flight routes and optimises traffic distribution. This allows us to meet safety and capacity requirements while minimising the impact on the surrounding area," said Dirk Mahns, Chief Operating Officer (COO) on the DFS Executive Board. "We are aware that the northwest will see more overflights in future. However, this will enable us to develop air traffic safely, while at the same time looking after the interests of the region," Mahns continued.
DFS media contact: Fraport media contact:
Ute Otterbein Maria Linden
Phone: +49 (0)6103 707-4162 Phone: +49 (0)69 690-70557
E-mail: presse@dfs.de E-mail: presse@fraport.de
DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH (DFS), the German air navigation service provider, is a State-owned company under private law with 5,800 employees as at 31 December 2024. DFS ensures the safe and punctual flow of air traffic over Germany. Around 2,200 air traffic controllers guide more than three million flights through German airspace in peak years, up to 10,000 every day. The company operates control centres in Bremen, Karlsruhe, Langen and Munich as well as control towers at the 15 designated international airports in Germany. The subsidiary, DFS Aviation Services GmbH, markets and sells products and services related to air navigation services, and provides air traffic control at nine regional airports in Germany and at Edinburgh Airport in the United Kingdom. DFS is working on the integration of drones into air traffic and has set up a joint venture, Droniq GmbH, with Deutsche Telekom. Other subsidiaries include R. Eisenschmidt GmbH, which markets publications and products for general aviation, and Kaufbeuren ATM Training GmbH (KAT), which provides training for military air traffic services personnel. The joint venture FCS Flight Calibration Services GmbH offers flight inspection services.
Headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, Fraport AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange, MDAX) is one of the world leading players in the global airport business. Fraport’s portfolio of companies spans four continents with activities at 29 airports worldwide. The Fraport Group generated revenue of €4.4 billion and profit of some €501.9 million in fiscal year 2024 (Dec. 31). More than 174 million passengers overall used airports actively managed by Fraport in 2024.
Fraport’s home-base Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is strategically located in the heart of Europe at the junction of vital intermodal road, rail and air networks. The surrounding Frankfurt Rhine-Main-Neckar region serves as an economic powerhouse and logistics hub for Europe and the world. In 2024, FRA welcomed some 61.6 million passengers and handled about 2.1 million metric tons of cargo.