Re-presentation to the Aircraft Noise Commission
At the meeting of the Frankfurt Aircraft Noise Commission (FLK), DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung and airport operator Fraport once again presented the fully revised operational concept for Frankfurt Airport. The concept is grounded in operational necessities and provides for the more frequent use of the existing northwest departure routes whenever traffic volume requires it. This is currently expected to become necessary starting around 2030. More than 90 percent of all flight movements will remain unchanged.
During the FLK meeting, the Hessian Ministry of Economics, Energy, Transport, Housing, and Rural Areas (HMWVW) confirmed that the impacts of the further-developed operating concept are in compliance with the planning approval decision. This assessment focuses on the year 2033, taking into account the traffic volume expected at that time and the operating concept anticipated for that specific point. This serves as the basis for the periodic review of the noise protection zone, as mandated by law.
Since the initial presentation in June 2025, DFS and Fraport have optimized the concept in detail, addressed outstanding technical issues, and engaged in intensive consultations – within the framework of a working group – with the FLK, the affected municipalities, and the HMWVW. This process has resulted in concrete measures for active and passive noise protection, which are bundled into a comprehensive noise protection package: The Southern Bypass remains an integral component of the further-developed operational concept.
Changes to the utilization share of the northwest departure routes are implemented only to the extent strictly necessary for operational purposes. Whenever possible, air traffic is managed in a manner that is, from a noise-reduction perspective, collectively preferable. To provide a “noise respite,” the northwest departure routes are, as a general rule, to remain unused during the early morning hours. With regard to passive noise protection, measures have been agreed upon that go beyond statutory requirements.
Enhanced Operational Concept at Frankfurt Airport: What Is Changing and Why
The adjustments to the revised operating concept are targeted and limited: they affect exclusively departures from the Center Runway during westerly operations. The vast majority of departures – a clear two-thirds – continue to take place, unchanged, from the West Runway.
The concept envisages shifting more departures to the existing northwest departure routes and utilizing them based on traffic demand. This flexible utilization functions like a railway switch: for every hour of operation, the DFS assesses the volume of departure demand on the center runway. If demand is low, the switch is set to “Southwest”—aircraft taking off from the center runway are routed via the southern bypass. If demand is high, the switch is set to “Northwest” – after takeoff, the northwest departure routes are utilized.
This means that, in the future, there will be periods during the day in both regions when no overflights occur. On an annual average, it is projected that by 2030, there will be one to two additional flight movements per hour along the northwest departure routes. The southern bypass remains an integral part of the concept and will continue to be utilized during periods of lighter traffic. No new flight routes are being created.
The background to this is a fundamental shift in operational conditions compared to the planning approval procedure concluded more than 18 years ago: Following an incident in December 2011 – and the resulting safety recommendations issued by the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) – the Southern Bypass Route is no longer available to the extent originally planned. At the same time, it has become evident that the northwestern departure routes offer greater capacity – thanks to modern navigation procedures – than was assumed during the planning approval process. The further-developed operational concept therefore represents the technically appropriate response to this altered operational reality.
“In the long term, we anticipate an increase in traffic volume at Frankfurt Airport,” says Dr. Pierre Dominique Prümm, Chief Technical Officer (CTO) at Fraport AG. “The rising number of flights is already reflected today in the strain experienced during peak hours. Consequently, the capacity limit of our current operating concept is drawing closer. With this enhanced operating concept, we will continue to ensure safe, orderly, and smooth operations in the future, while fully complying with all requirements set forth in the planning approval decision for the airport’s expansion.”
The 2007 planning approval decision was issued based on a traffic forecast of 701,000 aircraft movements per year. The further developed operating concept is based on a forecast of 560,000 aircraft movements in the year 2033.
Redetermination of the Noise Protection Zone: Regulated Procedure, Clear Responsibilities
The further-developed operational concept is directly embedded within the ongoing process for reviewing the noise protection area – a review mandated by law every ten years. As the competent state authority, the HMWVW is responsible for this undertaking. To calculate noise contours and determine protection entitlements, the HMWVW requires a functional operational concept serving as a basis for the target year 2033.
The present calculations demonstrate that the further-developed operating concept results in no greater number of noise-affected persons in the region overall than the current operating concept. The total area of the noise protection zone in 2033 is smaller compared to the noise protection zone in 2011. The overall noise exposure remains significantly below the values deemed to have been duly weighed within the planning approval procedure.
“Together with Fraport AG, we have examined various options,” says Dirk Mahns, Managing Director of Operations at DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH. “The refined operational concept utilizes exclusively existing flight routes and optimizes traffic distribution in such a way that we meet safety and capacity requirements while minimizing the impact on the surrounding environment. We are aware that the northwest will experience an increase in overflights in the future. However, this enables us to handle future air traffic safely and efficiently, while simultaneously keeping the interests of the region in mind.”
Noise Protection Package: Planned Relief for the Region
Following discussions with representatives from local municipalities and the HMWVW, DFS and Fraport have developed a noise protection package for the affected region. It supplements existing active and passive noise protection measures with compensation offers for particularly affected municipalities and citizens.
The noise protection package is subject to the approval of the competent bodies. The key elements of the package at Frankfurt Airport include:
- Early morning noise breaks in the northwest during westerly operations: Mandated by regulation until 6:00 a.m.; extended until 7:00 a.m. whenever operationally feasible.
- The consistent use of the southern approach whenever possible
- Passive noise protection extending beyond statutory minimum requirements, featuring expanded reimbursement options and shorter timeframes for affected residents.
- The designation of a voluntary noise protection zone in the northwest for areas that are more significantly affected by the further-developed concept.
- Transparent monitoring of the actual utilization rates of the Northwest and South bypass routes, with public reporting.
- Incentives for the use of modern and quieter aircraft, including through charging schemes.
“We take the concerns of the affected municipalities and citizens seriously. The noise protection package is an expression of this commitment. We aim not only to inform the people of the region but also – together with them and the relevant bodies – to arrive at sustainable solutions,” emphasizes Dr. Pierre Dominique Prümm.
More about Frankfurt Airport
