Airport Charges

Overview of prices and their basis

Airport charges are mainly incurred for the take-off, landing, and parking of aircraft, and for the use of passenger facilities. In addition, there are charges for the noise and emissions caused by the aircraft.

The charges are used exclusively to refinance airport infrastructure and the resultant operating expenses. In Germany, airport charges are subject to the approval requirement set out in Section 19b of the German Air Traffic Act (LuftVG). The regional aviation authority responsible for Frankfurt Airport is the Hessian Ministry of Economics, Energy, Transport and Housing (HMWEVW). Annual consultations, for example, are used to involve the airlines prior to approving such charges.

In November 2019, the Hessian Ministry of Economics, Energy, Transport and Housing approved the application for charges for Frankfurt Airport, along with the incentive programs it contains. The charging system remained in place as at January 2020. With the exception of noise-related landing and take-off charges, no structural changes were made.

Only charges for noise pollution increased

As well as the noise-related charges themselves, the amounts added to them at night were increased – from 50 to 65 percent for nighttime period 1 and from 200 to 300 percent for nighttime period 2. Additionally, surcharges for aircraft that either comply with or fall short of the certifications listed in Annex 16 Volume I Part II Chapter 3 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation were implemented and any existing surcharges amended (graded surcharges from 30 to 250 percent). Fraport is thus continuing its mission to champion low-noise flying. The principle of classification based on the level of noise actually measured still applies. The average level of aircraft noise measured at Frankfurt Airport between 2016 and 2018 is used as a basis for calculating the noise component. Certain aircraft were reclassified as a result of the calculation basis being updated, and classifications of new aircraft were added.

The FRA incentive model remains in place and lays the foundations for continuous and sustainable traffic growth, while striving to keep Frankfurt Airport’s noise footprint at a low level. It offers incentives for airlines to increase connectivity in intercontinental traffic and to achieve growth in continental traffic from Frankfurt Airport.

The Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS) is being continued in 2020. This will encourage further technical innovation at Frankfurt Airport. GBAS is a navigation system based on the Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) that enables satellite-supported precision approaches and can therefore produce benefits such as a reduction in the noise footprint.