ANR 10/97 August 16, 1997

Frankfurt Airport's Overnight AirFRAight^® Strategy Saves Airlines and Shippers Time and Money

Advantages Include Maximum Aircraft Rotation, Greater Cargo Yields, and Just-In-Time Delivery

Europe's Leading Air Cargo Hub Serves as Strategic Gateway to the Global Economy

FAG/rap: Designed specifically for all-cargo air transport services, Flughafen Frankfurt/Main AG's Overnight AirFRAight Strategy allows airlines to maximize their aircraft rotation or utilization rate, to increase their cargo yields, to offer a JIT-type (just-in-time) service for global shippers (e.g., manufacturers), and to save money through reduced landing and handling fees during off-peak hours at Europe's leading air cargo gateway -- Frankfurt Airport (FRA).

Slots Available, Landing Fees Reduced 50 Percent:

For example, Flughafen Frankfurt/Main AG (FAG) -- the company owning and managing Frankfurt Airport -- is offering a 50 percent reduction in landing fees only for all-freighter aircraft (scheduled cargo services) that land during off-peak nighttime hours and that are classified as ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) Annex 16, Chapter 3 low-noise, environmentally friendly aircraft.

Specifically, FRA's "off-peak" time windows are from 21:00 to 23:59 in the evening and from 05:00 to 6:59 in the morning.

Contrary to popular belief, Frankfurt is one major European airport that has slot capacity available. Frankfurt Airport has no take-off restrictions during the entire night for Annex 16, Chapter 3 aircraft and does not have caps on the number of aircraft movements per year, as is the case at some other European airports.

As the World Turns:

By taking advantage of the Earth's rotation and time zones, FAG's Overnight AirFRAight* Strategy makes it possible for airlines to link all major global business/industrial centers so that cargo can travel primarily at night: from Frankfurt eastwards (the so-called EurAsian Shuttle) and westwards (the so-called EUS Shuttle).

Using nighttime long-haul transport, airlines can offer efficient early morning delivery to global shippers. Based on the JIT (Just-in Time) concept used by global manufacturers and assuming daytime for production and nighttime for transportation, the Overnight AirFRAight* Strategy allows for higher load factors with fewer fluctuations, higher yields per ton, better freight consolidation because of FRA's transfer hub status and excellent ground feeder services (e.g., Road Feeder Services)

Maximizing Aircraft Air and Turnaround Times:

Along with planetary rotation, aircraft rotation is another important element in FAG's Overnight AirFRAight* Strategy. Operating with fewer restraints at FRA, carriers can significantly increase their aircraft utilization rate.

For example, the aircraft utilization rate could be increased from a standard 12 hours per day to as much as 18 hours per day. FAG calls this AIROMAX, short for Aircraft Rotation Maximization. Furthermore, airlines and their customers can benefit from lower turnaround costs and faster turnaround times.

Visit FRA's 10th International Air Freight Days:

To learn more about FAG's Overnight AirFRAight Strategy you are invited to visit Stand 12 at the Frankfurt International Air Freight Days conference: running September 24 to 25, 1997 at the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel (Terminal 1). This conference coincides with the Inter Airport '97 trade fair being held at the southern side of Frankfurt Airport from September 23 to 26, 1997.

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