Dr. Bender: "Historic Day for Frankfurt Ai...

FRANKFURT, Germany, December 18 /PRNewswire/ --

- Fraport's CEO: Milestone on the Road to Airport Expansion

    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".



    
    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: [phone],
    Fax: [phone],
    E-mail: [e-mail];
    
    Internet: http://www.fraport.com.