Frankfurt Airport Secures Supply of Essential Goods

Air freight makes an indispensable contribution to the basic supply of the population. The partners at the site are jointly tackling the challenges of the changed freight business due to the Corona pandemic.

(Frankfurt) The global spread of the coronavirus has changed the air freight business in a very short time. The import volume in Frankfurt has increased enormously, while the export business is currently stagnating. Transfer freight has almost completely disappeared. The type of freight has also shifted towards smaller, loose packages. Frankfurt Airport, together with its partners on site, has quickly responded to these changes and continues to ensure the supply of Germany and Europe with essential goods.

In particular, urgently needed medical and pharmaceutical protective equipment has made up the majority of the goods being handled for several weeks now. With the collapse of passenger traffic, nearly all passenger aircraft remained on the ground, eliminating the option for cargo on passenger flights. The missing capacities can partly be compensated by so-called “freighters,” passenger planes that are used as cargo aircraft. “The loading and unloading of passenger planes converted to freighters involves a significant manual effort,” says Max Philipp Conrady, Head of Central Cargo Infrastructure at the airport operator Fraport AG. “Only in cooperation with all involved partners can smooth handling be ensured – both in the front area and on the land side.”

The changed freight business is also noticeable among freight forwarders: “In recent weeks, we have handled over 200 tons of medical goods daily. In April, that amounted to around 730,000 packages labeled ‘masks.’ Our warehouses are fully utilized, and our staff is working under high pressure,” says Claus Wagner, Managing Director of FCS Frankfurt Cargo Services. In addition to the composition of the freight, many new players in the supply chain are particularly challenging. Wagner: “Currently, in addition to established forwarding companies, we have a multitude of individual recipients who pick up their goods directly from us. Often, the processes are not known, leading to increased coordination efforts.”

Fraport and FCS have jointly overcome these challenges with other partners in the Cargo Community through close communication. Joint solutions such as additional parking spaces, more personnel, and mutual cross-company support underscore the importance of the air freight location Frankfurt. “Our intense commitment to building a resilient Cargo Community has paid off,” explains Conrady. The exchange between all parties has worked better, and information has flowed more quickly. “The crisis has brought us together as a community even more. Together, we ensure that air freight makes an indispensable contribution to the basic supply of the population.”

Photo: © Fraport

Caption: The warehouses at Frankfurt Airport are full.

www.fraport.com