FRANKFURT, Germany, October 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

FRA's Global Network Features 264 Passenger Destinations in 113 Countries - Overall Economic Developments Noticeable - Decline in Cargo Traffic Slackening

The Frankfurt Airport (FRA) Winter Timetable 2012/13, which goes into effect on Sunday, October 28, features a total of 264 passenger destinations worldwide, including 144 intercontinental destinations.  Although there will be 11 destinations less than for last year's winter schedule, the number of countries linked to FRA will increase by 2 to 113.  In particular, the FRA Winter Timetable 2012/13 offers new destinations to Asia.  The Frankfurt-based leisure carrier Condor will be opening routes for the first time to Siem Reap (REP) in Cambodia, and to Rangoon (RGN) in Myanmar.  Condor will also add Rio de Janeiro (SDU) in Brazil, and Cape Town (CPT) in South Africa, to its FRA network.  

Deutsche Lufthansa will increase flight frequencies this winter on routes to Khartoum (KRT) in the Sudan, Addis Abeba (ADD) in Ethiopia, Doha (DOH) in Qatar, Bahrain (BAH), as well as America's Dallas (DFW), Colombia's capital of Bogota (BOG), and Brazil's Olympic city of Rio de Janeiro (GIG).  The new Chinese route that Lufthansa introduced in the summer to Qingdao (TAO) via Shenyang (SHE) will continue this winter as well.

In European traffic, flights previously offered in last year's winter timetable by Cirrus (Germany), Malev (Hungary) and Spanair have been dropped due to the bankruptcy of these three airlines.  In contrast, Poland's LOT will increase flight frequencies on its Frankfurt to Krakow route this winter.

The total number of departures per week registered this winter by FRA's passenger airlines will reach 3,980, which is down by about 4.6 percent year-on-year. However, intercontinental traffic remains constant and strong. The passenger load factor, relevant for passenger growth, is expected to rise again and exceed the 69.7 percent figure of the previous 2011 winter schedule.

In the cargo sector, the decline is slackening.  The number of all-cargo flights for the FRA Winter Timetable 2012/13 will drop only slightly by 2.6 percent to 220 departures per week. Intercontinental cargo movements will grow by over three percent year-on-year, thus giving FRA more than a 60 percent share of intercontinental cargo flights in Germany.  Frankfurt Airport will offer a total of 85 all-freighter cargo destinations in 47 countries, representing a modest increase over the previous year's winter schedule.

Commenting on the FRA's Winter Timetable 2012/13, Fraport AG's executive board chairman Dr. Stefan Schulte said:  "The growth of air transportation is considered an indicator of the overall economic situation and, thus, is largely dependent on these developments. Although strong economic uncertainty in many European countries is dampening the growth in continental traffic, FRA is benefiting - as one of major hub airports worldwide - from its continuing strong position in the important intercontinental business."

Passengers and greeters can find FRA's latest schedule on the http://www.frankfurt-airport.com website (under "flights").   A PDF copy of our pocket Timetable brochure can be downloaded from this section, too.  Furthermore, smartphone users can download the FRA Airport App for their appropriate operating system.  This app contains the latest flight information as well as other useful tips to enhance your travel experience at Frankfurt Airport.

For Further Information, Please Contact:
Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide
Robert A. Payne, B.A.A. - International Spokesman and Head of the International Press/PR & External Activities Team, Press Office (UKM-PS), Corporate Communications, 60547 Frankfurt, Germany; Tel.: +49-69-690-78547; E-mail: r.payne@fraport.de; Internet: http://www.fraport.com