Fraport Passenger Traffic Surpasses 2019 Levels on International Surge

Airport operating group Fraport AG handled approximately 146 million passengers across its global airport network in the first nine months of 2026, marking an increase of 1.7 percent compared to the same period in 2025. The milestone represents the first time that total nine-month passenger volume across the Frankfurt-based group has exceeded pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019.

The traffic expansion was powered almost entirely by the operator's international airport concessions, which generated record passenger flows across southern Europe and South America, compensating for stagnant volumes at its Frankfurt home hub.

"The broad portfolio of the Fraport Group has proven its value. We’ve achieved a solid result at the Group level, despite a difficult market environment due to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East and steep increases in jet fuel prices," stated Dr. Stefan Schulte, Chief Executive Officer of Fraport AG. "Our international business has been a particular driver."

International Airport Portfolio Drives Record Volumes

Fraport's fourteen Greek regional gateways established new historical benchmarks, handling 5.1 percent more passengers year-on-year as Mediterranean summer tourism extended deep into the autumn schedule. In Peru, Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima recorded a 2.8 percent passenger increase, also reaching a new all-time high.

Slovenia's Ljubljana Airport experienced rapid traffic acceleration, posting a 15.7 percent increase in passenger volume. In South America, Fraport's Brazilian operations at Fortaleza and Porto Alegre achieved combined growth of 9.1 percent, while the Bulgarian coastal hubs of Burgas and Varna expanded passenger throughput by 6.1 percent.

The robust global growth reinforced Fraport's geographic diversification strategy, insulating the business from regional disruptions and localized European cost pressures.

Frankfurt Hub Pressured by High Regulatory Costs

In contrast to the buoyant international portfolio, passenger traffic at Frankfurt Airport remained virtually flat. Germany's primary international aviation gateway processed 47.5 million passengers between January and September 2026, representing a marginal decline of 0.2 percent year-on-year.

Fraport leadership attributed the sluggish recovery at Frankfurt to disproportionately high German regulatory charges, elevated aviation security taxes, and a reduction in short-haul airline seat capacity. Flight offerings were further curtailed by network restructuring, including the cessation of operations at regional feeder Lufthansa CityLine.

Despite the passenger headwinds, Frankfurt Airport delivered marked operational improvements. Summer travel punctuality rose by six percentage points year-on-year to approximately 74 percent, outperforming competing European transfer hubs including Amsterdam Schiphol, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Madrid Barajas.

Record Operating Earnings Amid Capital Investments

Robust international traffic pushed Group revenue up 3.8 percent to €3,466 million, or €3,350.1 million when adjusted for construction and expansion services under IFRIC 12. Group earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 2.0 percent to an all-time record of €1,178 million.

International subsidiaries generated 48 percent of total Group EBITDA across the nine-month period, expanding to 54 percent during the third quarter alone. Free cash flow nearly doubled to €93 million, demonstrating strong cash generation across active terminals.

Group net profit fell 28.8 percent to €314.5 million, largely reflecting higher financing expenses and increased depreciation charges associated with capital-intensive construction projects, including the imminent commissioning of Frankfurt Airport's Terminal 3 and major terminal upgrades in Lima. Supported by strong international momentum, Fraport management reaffirmed its full-year guidance, projecting Group EBITDA of up to €1.5 billion.