Frankfurt Airport Celebrates Proud 100 Years

A century has passed since the founding of Südwestdeutsche Luftverkehrs AG, marking the beginning of the history of today’s Fraport AG and the development of Frankfurt am Main as an aviation hub. Fraport is celebrating the anniversary with a year-long campaign centered around its home base, Frankfurt Airport – an airport with stories. Frankfurt is also the hotspot for air freight in Germany.

(Frankfurt) Frankfurt Airport is one of the most significant international air traffic hubs. The past 100 years are filled with exciting stories, innovations, encounters, some setbacks, but also many milestones: from the first airfield at Hofgut Rebstock to the future state-of-the-art Terminal 3 in the south of the current airport. From the first propeller aircraft to the era of modern wide-body jets.

“Since the groundbreaking a century ago, Frankfurt Airport has developed into a global hub that is of outstanding importance not only for Germany but also for the entire aviation industry,” summarizes Dr. Stefan Schulte, CEO of Fraport AG. “The airport has shaped the region, promoted economic growth, created jobs, and advanced cultural exchange. But the airport is more than just a logistical hub. It is a symbol of connections – connections between cultures, people, and ideas. Here, at the gateway to the world, worlds come together and create an atmosphere of exchange and collaboration. The campaign ‘100 Years in Flight’ is a tribute to this history and its achievements,” he announces.

The birthday celebrations will span the entire calendar year of 2024. Fraport AG will launch its own website for this purpose. At www.100JahrewieimFlug.de, the airport operator will publish new colorful stories and activities related to the airport and the anniversary every week starting February 14. In the summer, numerous public events are planned on the visitor terrace of the airport at Terminal 2. Fraport will also address the professional audience with high-profile conferences and lectures.

Diverse Aspects and Images

“When I think of the history of air traffic in Frankfurt, I immediately have very different aspects and images in mind. This starts with our remarkable architectural projects and extends to extensive measures for climate protection, the promotion of regional clubs and initiatives, our international business, which has also strengthened us economically here in Frankfurt, and the technology that has revolutionized our operations – all of these were and are innovations and decisions that have shaped our success,” says Schulte. “But of course, there were also difficult years. I think of perhaps the greatest crisis that the aviation industry, as well as I personally, have had to face so far: the Covid pandemic with its severe impacts on our airport. I am glad that after this turning point, we can not only reconnect with our past successes but am also optimistic that we will soon surpass them,” he predicts.

Photo: © Fraport