Runways Of Frankfurt Airport: A Comprehensive Overview

Frankfurt Airport, Germany's busiest airport by passenger traffic, has four runways. The airport's newest runway, the north-west runway, is situated north of the main airport and is accessed via two taxiway bridges that cross a railway line and several roads. The runway was constructed in 2009 and opened in 2011, sparking protests from residents and environmentalists. The runway was closed temporarily in 2020 due to reduced demand during the COVID-19 pandemic and was used to store Lufthansa's larger aircraft.

Frankfurt Airport has four runways

Frankfurt Airport's four runways are arranged in a unique configuration, with three runways parallel to each other in an east-west direction and one runway oriented north-south. This setup allows for simultaneous parallel landings, enhancing the airport's capacity and efficiency. The runways vary in length, with the north and south runways stretching 4,000 meters, the west runway at 1,800 meters, and the northwest runway at 2,800 meters.

The addition of the fourth runway, the northwest runway, was not without controversy. Protests from residents and environmentalists raised concerns about increasing noise and pollution, as well as the cutting down of protected trees in the nearby Frankfurt City Forest. Despite the opposition, the runway was completed and opened in 2011, increasing the airport's capacity to 126 aircraft movements per hour.

However, in 2020, Frankfurt Airport faced a unique challenge. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, passenger numbers plummeted, and the airport temporarily had too many runways for the reduced level of flights. As a result, the newest runway, the northwest runway, was closed to air traffic from December 2020 until its reopening in the summer of 2021. During this period, Lufthansa utilized the closed runway to park some of its larger grounded aircraft.

Frankfurt Airport's four runways play a crucial role in its operation as an international travel hub, allowing it to efficiently handle a high volume of air traffic and contributing to its status as one of the busiest airports in Europe.

The northwest runway was closed in 2020 due to reduced demand

Frankfurt Airport, Germany's busiest airport by passenger traffic, was forced to close parts of its operations in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The northwest runway and runway 18 west were closed on 23 March 2020, along with terminal 2, and repurposed for parking unused aircraft. The closures were part of a strategy to consolidate all passenger operations in terminal 1.

The northwest runway reopened in July 2020 to handle the increased demand during the summer tourist season, while runway 18 west remained closed. The pandemic resulted in a significant drop in passenger traffic, with Frankfurt Airport recording its lowest passenger volume since 1984.

The pandemic's impact on air travel resulted in a reduction in demand, leading to the closure of the northwest runway at Frankfurt Airport in 2020. This closure was a strategic decision to optimise resources and manage the decreased demand for air travel during the pandemic.

The northwest runway at Frankfurt Airport, which had been closed due to reduced demand, reopened in July 2020 to accommodate the increase in summer tourist travel. This decision reflects the dynamic nature of airport operations, where runway utilisation can be adjusted based on fluctuations in travel demand.

Frankfurt Airport's response to the pandemic, including the closure and subsequent reopening of the northwest runway, demonstrates the airport's ability to adapt to changing circumstances and balance operational efficiency with passenger demand.

The airport is Germany's busiest by passenger traffic

Frankfurt Airport is Germany's busiest airport by passenger traffic, serving Germany's fifth-largest city, Frankfurt. The airport has four runways and two passenger terminals, with a capacity of approximately 65 million passengers per year. In 2023, 59.4 million passengers travelled through Frankfurt Airport, with 50.1% of these being transfer passengers.

Frankfurt Airport is also the busiest airport in Europe in terms of cargo traffic. In 2023, a total of 1,930,000 tonnes of cargo was handled at the airport, with 91.7% of this being carried by dedicated cargo planes.

The airport is the main hub for the German airline Lufthansa and serves 330 destinations in 5 continents, making it the airport with the most direct routes in the world. In the summer of 2024, 83 airlines took off from Frankfurt Airport to 283 destinations in 90 countries worldwide.

Frankfurt Airport is centrally located in the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main region, Germany's third-largest metropolitan region. The airport is surrounded by the Frankfurt City Forest and is 12km (7.5 mi) southwest of central Frankfurt. The airport grounds form a city district of Frankfurt named Frankfurt-Flughafen.

The airport has an extensive transport network, with two railway stations: one for suburban/regional trains and one for long-distance trains. It can also be accessed by car, taxi, bus, and bicycle.

The airport covers 2,300 hectares of land

Frankfurt Airport covers 2,300 hectares of land, which is roughly the size of 25 soccer fields. The airport is Germany's main international airport by passenger numbers and is located in Frankfurt, Germany's fifth-largest city. It is also the busiest airport in Germany and the 6th busiest in Europe by passenger traffic.

Frankfurt Airport is centrally located in the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main region, Germany's third-largest metropolitan region. The airport grounds form a city district of Frankfurt named Frankfurt-Flughafen and are surrounded by the Frankfurt City Forest. The airport covers an extensive area, with the southern portion extending partially into the towns of Rüsselsheim am Main and Mörfelden-Walldorf, and the western portion lying within Kelsterbach.

The airport's vast land area allows for the accommodation of its four runways, two passenger terminals, and extensive logistics and maintenance facilities. The terminals feature a range of services and facilities, including shops, food and beverage outlets, and duty-free stores, enhancing the passenger experience.

The large area covered by the airport also enables it to handle a significant volume of air traffic. Frankfurt Airport serves as a major transport node for the greater region, providing efficient connections to other parts of Germany and Europe. The airport has the capacity to handle approximately 65 million passengers per year and offers flights to 330 destinations on five continents.

The airport has two large main passenger terminals

Frankfurt Airport has two large main passenger terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, with a third, Terminal 3, under construction. Terminal 1 is the older and larger of the two existing terminals, with a landside length of 420 metres and a capacity of approximately 50 million passengers per year. It is divided into concourses A, B, C and Z, with a total of 103 gates, 54 of which are equipped with jetways. Terminal 2, which opened in 1994, has a capacity of 15 million passengers a year and is divided into concourses D and E. Together, the two terminals have around 300 shops, food and beverage outlets, and services, including 19 Duty-Free and Travel Value shops. The terminals also contain a total of 71 restaurants, bars, and cafes.

The two terminals are connected by the people mover system, SkyLine, which has three stops in Terminal 1 and one in Terminal 2. A new passenger transport system is also under construction to connect Terminal 3 with the existing terminals.

In addition to the two main passenger terminals, Frankfurt Airport also has a much smaller dedicated First Class Terminal, which is operated and exclusively used by Lufthansa.

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