Frankfurt Airport (FRA) reported that cargo throughput (airfreight + airmail) declined by 8.8% year-on-year to 164,769 metric tons in February 2022 although it is up 2.1% compared to the pre-pandemic level seen in February 2019.

In a statement, the airport said this drop-in tonnage can be attributed primarily to the earlier timing of the Chinese New Year.

During the period, aircraft movements, in contrast, grew strongly by 100.8% year-on-year to 22,328 takeoffs and landings, and accumulated maximum takeoff weights (MTOWS) increased by 53.0% year on year to nearly 1.5 million metric tons.

In the same period, the airport welcomed some 2.1 million passengers – a gain of 211.3% compared to the same month last year when demand dropped sharply due to travel restrictions.

Frankfurt Airport's demand recovery was still dampened by the rapid spread of Omicron in February 2022, it said, adding, however, the lifting or easing of travel restrictions in various countries had a positive impact on holiday traffic.

Compared to pre-pandemic figures, Frankfurt’s passenger traffic rebounded in February 2022 to nearly half the level recorded in the February 2019 reference month (down 53.4%).

"Across the Group, Fraport's international portfolio of wholly-owned and subsidiary airports also continued to report positive passenger performance in the reporting month. All of Fraport’s Group airports worldwide – with the exception of Xi’an – achieved significant traffic gains in February 2022," the airport said.