Dr. Bender: "Historic Day for Frankfurt Airport"

FRANKFURT, Germany, December 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Fraport AG's executive board chairman Dr. Wilhelm Bender called it a "Historic day for Frankfurt Airport and for aviation in Germany," at the signing of the zoning decision on airport expansion by Hesse minister of economics, transport and state development, Alois Rhiel, in Wiesbaden. Speaking to journalists, Bender explained that an "important step on the road to Frankfurt Airport's urgently needed expansion" has now been taken. Only expansion will ensure the competitiveness and future of Frankfurt Airport (FRA), which is number three in Europe and ranks in the top 10 worldwide.

Bender said that expansion of the airport is also a "national task". Germany's central airport needs a secure future in the aviation growth market to be successful at an international level, because the number of passengers and the amount of airfreight is expected to double by 2020.

Bender, who also heads the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main Economic Initiative, said that the decision is "a good day for the region". Expansion of Frankfurt Airport is the prerequisite for strengthening our home region in the increasingly competitive European market.

Bender pointed out that the approximately EUR4 billion airport expansion is the biggest private enterprise investment project in Germany. Furthermore, up to EUR300 million are being invested annually in existing facilities.

In the opinion of Bender, FRA's expansion is a "huge employment generator that will create up to 100,000 additional jobs". This figure reflects the various positive effects, ranging from direct employment at the airport, indirect employment at service providers and suppliers, to catalytic effects by companies establishing their business in the vicinity of the airport to take advantage of mobility services.

According to Bender, the number of jobs at the airport has doubled in the past 25 years. In the past decade 10,000 new jobs have been created. With more than 70,000 jobs Frankfurt Airport is Germany's largest employment complex at a single location. By 2020, FRA is projected to employ 95,000 people directly at the airport. This underscores the importance of FRA as a "job machine".

Bender also stated that today's decision will help to develop Frankfurt Airport City, with the objective of earning it a position in the champions league of the leading global economic regions. Major airports like Frankfurt are cities of the future, job machines, locations for innovation and communication, intellectual marketplaces, top real estate addresses, and image boosters for communities and regions.

In closing, Bender said that Fraport had every reason to be optimistic for 2008. Fraport is confident about the upcoming court rulings on cases against airport expansion. For reasons of fairness and adjudication, Fraport will not proceed with construction activities for the expansion program before the Kassel administrative court concludes its fast-track proceedings. Fraport will rely on the court rulings enabling good prospects for the future.

Bender explained that timely decisions are important. The new runway is expected to be inaugurated no later than the 2011 winter timetable. "Frankfurt is coming," stressed Bender "is the message we are sending to world markets - where more than 150 airports currently have expansion projects".

    Internet: http://www.fraport.com

    For Further information, Please Contact:
    Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide
    Robert A. Payne, B.A.A. - Manager International Press
    Press Office (Dept. UKM-PS), Corporate Communications (UKM)
    60547 Frankfurt am Main, Federal Republic of Germany
    Tel.: +49-69-690-78547; Fax: +49-69-690-60548;
    E-mail: r.payne@fraport.de;