Frankfurt hikes passenger forecast but expects to miss satisfaction targets

Frankfurt Main airport’s operator admits passenger satisfaction targets will probably not be reached this year, as operational capacity bottlenecks persist. Operator Fraport states, in its first-half briefing, that almost 21m passengers passed through the hub over the six months to 30 June – although this was still 38% below pre-pandemic levels. It expects Frankfurt to record total passenger numbers of 45-50m this year, up from the previous forecast of 39-46m. But the company acknowledges that the “strong and dynamic” recovery, spurred by lifting of travel restrictions, is presenting “some major operational challenges”. “Unfortunately this also results in recurrent delays,” says Fraport chief Stefan Schulte. He claims that extensive measures implemented at the airport, including staff recruitment and support from administrative personnel, have been effective and helped to maintain stable and reliable operations. “However, there is still a way to go until we will fully meet our own quality requirements again,” he says. Fraport states that “intensive efforts” are being undertake to eliminate the operational snags but admits its target for global passenger satisfaction is “unlikely to be achieved” this year. <br/>