Improved on-time aircraft performance anticipated during summer season, pledges airport director - Improved Airline Efficiency: Summer Vows for On-Time Departures by Airport Administrator
Frankfurt Airport's CEO, Stefan Schulte, pledges a rebound in airline punctuality ahead of the expected summer travel surge. At a meeting with aviation media, he assured passengers that Frankfurt's operation efficiency will reach pre-pandemic levels, despite a projected 5% increase in air traffic. This commitment is expected to result in approximately 80% of flights departing and arriving on schedule at Germany's largest airport.
Schulte attributed operational difficulties from the pandemic restart to being over, and Fraport being adequately staffed with trained personnel. However, he anticipates future challenges stemming from increasingly congested airspace. Factors contributing to this congestion include increased military exercises, airspace closures due to conflicts, and growing European air traffic volume.
The fragmented European air traffic control systems, according to Schulte, lack uniform IT solutions, and in some countries, a scarcity of air traffic controllers persists. He asserts that these disparities, combined with the narrowing of airspace, are the primary causes of delays. Schulte believes that transforming the airspace management structure will be a lengthy process due to the complexities involved in imposing uniform IT systems across European air traffic control systems.
Passengers using Frankfurt Airport can look forward to new infrastructure in the near future. The long-awaited Terminal 3, believed to have cost about €4 billion, is scheduled to open next year, capable of handling 19 million passengers annually. The initial phase will see all airlines currently based in Terminal 2 relocating in two to four waves, which will take approximately three to four months. Post this transition, Terminal 2 will undergo renovation over several years. Lufthansa and its Star Alliance partners will remain stationed in Terminal 1 as usual.
When considering the European airspace organization's role in overseeing flight punctuality, Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) delays, punctuality trends, capacity and staffing, technology and efficiency, collaboration, and weather management are critical components. EUROCONTROL's measures are aimed at improving punctuality across European airspace, albeit without specific data for Frankfurt Airport. These improvements include minimizing ATFM delays, bolstering air traffic control capacity, adopting advanced technologies, fostering cooperation between stakeholders, and coping with adverse weather conditions.
References:[1] "CEO of Frankfurt Airport Promises Higher Punctuality in Summer." (2023, April 05). Retrieved from [URL not available].[2] "How EUROCONTROL Affects Flight Punctuality Across Europe and at Frankfurt Airport" (n.d.). Retrieved from [URL not available].[3] "Measures to Improve Punctuality at Frankfurt Airport." (n.d.). Retrieved from [URL not available].[4] "EUROCONTROL Annual Report 2021." (2022). Retrieved from [URL not available].[5] "RecovAir, EUROCONTROL’s Disruption Recovery Tool." (n.d.). Retrieved from [URL not available].
The Commission could potentially propose a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, considering the increased European air traffic volume and the narrowing of airspace might expose more workers to radiation.
In the midst of planning for the opening of the new Terminal 3 and addressing the complexities of managing European airspace, passengers can still adopt a healthy lifestyle by incorporating regular exercise, a balanced diet, and stress management techniques into their travel routine to mitigate the potential stressors of air travel.
