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Fraport Brings More Temperature-Sensitive Transporters for Frankfurt Airport

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Fraport, the owner and operator of Frankfurt Airport (FRA), will be using two additional state-of-the-art refrigerated trailers for the transportation of temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products. This will take Fraport’s total fleet for cross-apron transportation up to 20 temperature-controlled transporters.

“The two new refrigerated transporters will give us maximum flexibility when it comes to handling temperature-sensitive goods. We have profound expertise in this area, and our customers benefit from this. It means that we can offer ideal infrastructure conditions together with our partners at Air Cargo Community in Frankfurt,” said Siegfried Pasler, Head of Ground Handling Services at Fraport AG. The new dollies are called “cool boxes.” They allow pinpoint transportation of temperature-sensitive products in a range of between minus 20 and plus 30 degrees Celsius. Each transporter has two cabins, which can be accessed efficiently from both sides. Each cabin is also fitted with an individually adjustable cooling system. Even when the engine is switched off and the outside temperature is 30 degrees Celsius, the cabin will remain at the set temperature for over 60 minutes. The transporters also have an electronic temperature monitoring system and a tracking system, which enable them to continuously transmit up-to-the-minute loading information.

“Last year, we handled 120,000 metric tons of pharmaceutical products at Frankfurt Airport, making us Europe’s leading pharmaceutical hub. The expansion of the fleet significantly underpins our status even further, particularly with a view to the upcoming transportation of the coronavirus vaccine,” explained Max Philipp Conrady, Head of Cargo Infrastructure and Development at Fraport.

Fraport has been using state-of-the-art, high-performance temperature-controlled transporters for over twenty years now, giving the airport operator a long track record in this area. Frankfurt Airport currently has around 12,000 square meters of temperature-controlled handling capacity available for pharmaceutical products. Another 2,000 square meters are about to be put into operation. Over 75 percent of the airport’s transport routes are certified in accordance with international and European CEIV1 standards.

Media Contact:

Christian Engel

Corporate Communications

Media Relations

Telephone +49 69 690-30713

c.engel@fraport.de

Fraport AG Begins Construction of New Truck Parking Lot in CargoCity South

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Today, Fraport AG began construction of a new truck parking lot at Frankfurt Airport’s CargoCity South. The roughly 14,500-square-meter lot is located within the airport’s operational area near Airport Gate 32 in the southern part of Frankfurt Airport (FRA). The new lot will provide space for another 61 trucks, bringing the total truck parking spaces available at CargoCity South to 135. The plans also include state-of-the-art sanitary facilities with shower rooms for the drivers. The parking lot will take around one year to build and is set to be operational by the end of 2021.

Max Philipp Conrady, head of Fraport AG’s Cargo Infrastructure and Development unit, said: “The dedicated truck parking area will further expand parking capacity in CargoCity South. It will provide ample space and modern facilities, as well as improve cargo processes for all partners in this busy area. The coronavirus pandemic has once again demonstrated that CargoCity South is an important transshipment hub for vital goods. We believe that the airfreight sector will continue to be pivotal for the distribution of key products from around the globe. This is why we wish to quickly put in place the additional parking spaces so we can offer our customers even better service.”

Shipping and logistics companies sometimes have to wait for their truck time slot until they can access the relevant logistics warehouse in CargoCity South. In the future, they can bridge the time either at the existing truck parking lot close to Airport Gate 31 or at the new parking lot now under construction at Airport Gate 32.

This parking facility will be equipped with five barrier gates for vehicles entering or exiting. The sanitary rooms will be free to use for parking lot customers. The overall construction cost is expected to be in the low single-digit million euro range. In addition to the truck parking spaces, the new lot will also provide 23 spaces for cars and 2 for buses. These spaces will be separated from the truck area by a fence in order to allow access from the public area of CargoCity South.

Media Contact:  Christian Engel, Corporate Communications, Media Relations, Telephone +49 69 690-30713, c.engel@fraport.de

Keeping Goods Moving via Frankfurt Airport: Europe’s Leading Cargo Airport Ensures Delivery of Vital Supplies

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The global coronavirus outbreak has rapidly changed the airfreight business. Import volumes at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) have risen sharply, while exports have stagnated. Transfer cargo has almost been eliminated. There has also been a noticeable shift in the shape and type of shipments towards small, loose packages. In tandem with its partners on-site, Frankfurt Airport has responded quickly to these changes, ensuring continued delivery of vital goods to Germany and Europe during the Corona crisis. 

In particular, the majority of shipments handled during the past weeks comprised urgently-needed medical and pharmaceutical protective supplies. Due to the collapse in passenger traffic, nearly all passenger aircraft have been grounded – resulting in the loss of belly cargo capacity. This missing capacity can be partially compensated by using so-called “Preighters” – passenger jets use for carrying only freight. Max Philipp Conrady, head of central cargo infrastructure at Fraport AG, the operator of Frankfurt Airport, stated: “Passenger planes being used as all-freighters require labor-intensive manual loading and unloading of cargo. Smooth handling is maintained thanks to very close cooperation among all partners involved – both in the airside apron area and on the landside of Frankfurt Airport.”

Landside cargo handlers have also noticed the sudden changes in the airfreight  business. Claus Wagner, managing director at FCS Frankfurt Cargo Services, stated: “During the past few weeks we have been handling more than 200 metric tons of medical supplies daily. In April, we handled some 730,000 packages labelled ‘protective masks’. Our warehouse facilities are operating at full capacity, and our staff are working nonstop.” Along with the composition of the freight, the inclusion of many new players in the supply chain is a further challenge. Wagner explained: “In addition to the established shipping companies, many individual recipients are currently collecting their goods from us directly. The processes are often unfamiliar, so increased coordination may be required.”

Fraport and FCS have successfully met these challenges by working closely with the other partners in the FRA cargo community. Joint solutions such as extra parking spaces, more staff, and intercompany assistance underscore the importance of Frankfurt Airport as a strategic global cargo hub. Fraport’s Conrady explained: “In recent years, our intensive commitment to building up a resilient cargo community at Frankfurt has paid off. All parties involved have communicated more effectively, and information has flowed more quickly. The crisis has drawn us even closer together as a community. Together, we are ensuring that air cargo is a vital and indispensible for delivering essential supplies to the people.”

#rebuildingtravel

Media Contact:

Maria Linden
Corporate Communications
Media Relations
Telephone +49 69 690-70557
m.linden@fraport.de