Aviation
CARGO GROWTH DROPS AT FRANKFURT AMID CHINA LOCKDOWNS, AIRSPACE CLOSURES
April 13, 2022
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) reported that cargo throughput (airfreight + airmail) saw a decline in March amid Covid-related lockdowns in China and airspace closures over the war in Ukraine.
Europe's busiest cargo airport said its air freight volumes decreased by 13.1% year-on-year to 181,214 metric tons in the reporting month. It is also 10.5% lower than the level seen in March 2019 before the pandemic.
"Factors contributing to this decline included China's ongoing Covid-related lockdowns, as well as reduced airspace capacity following airspace closures due to the war in Ukraine," Frankfurt said.
It added that in contrast, aircraft movements in March 2022 climbed by 97% year-on-year to 26,941 takeoffs and landings at FRA.
Meanwhile, accumulated maximum takeoff weights (MTOWs) also grew by 56.4% year on year to about 1.8 million metric tons.
For the period, the main European hub welcomed some 2.9 million passengers in March 2022 – an increase of 217.9% compared to the same month last year boosted by the lifting of pandemic-related travel restrictions only gradually started in March 2021.
"In the reporting month, FRA benefited from increasing travel demand, particularly to holiday destinations inside and outside Europe," it added.
