Rhine-Main Airport’s management is planning far-reaching steps to continue playing first fiddle as an air freight location in Europe in 2030 and beyond. This is to be achieved through a bundle of interlinked measures. In a call with CargoForwarder Global, Pierre Dominique Pruemm, Executive Board Member for Aviation and Infrastructure at Fraport AG, explains Fraport’s development scheme.
The concept is based on three pillars which are closely intertwined: the rapid digitalization of all air freight processes, complemented by the redesign of existing free space for air freight throughput within Fraport’s Cargo City South. At the same time, plans are already being developed to set up a logistics hub adjacent to Runway Northwest, whereby the practical implementation of this project is expected to begin from 2030 onwards.
Digitalization of export freight comes next
Back to the first task: digital transformation. Fraport and the software developer, DAKOSY, are driving forward this ambitious issue in a joint venture called “allivate”. All electronic data obtained from the freight processes are channeled into the Cargo Community System’s dashboard, providing users and business partners with real-time information on the status of their shipments. “Following import freight, the next big step is the digitalization of export shipments,” announces the Fraport executive.
Higher volumes on a smaller area
A second task is more tangible: in order to increase the handling capacity for imports, exports, and transit shipments, Fraport wants to fill the vacant spaces between buildings at Cargo CitySouth, and build freight facilities on the last plots of land. Since there are only a few vacant lots left, the space will be exhausted in the near future. Mr. Pruemm indicates that Lufthansa Cargo’s LCCevo project is part of the airport’s masterplan for cargo development. The freight carrier is investing 600 million euros in a new cargo center on site, which is due to be fully operational in 2030. Manager Pruemm is particularly impressed by the recently unveiled high-bay warehouse. “It allows the handling of a significantly higher number of shipments on the same floor space,” he says, praising the forward-looking, space-saving concept. To round the space issue off, he mentions a 53,000 m² area in the southern part of Cargo CitySouth, which can still be developed. In addition, 20,000 m² of additional parking space will be created for ground handling purposes.
Trimodal hub is integral part of the masterplan
Once this space is allocated to a user, Cargo CitySouth is full. Therefore, management already identified nearby expansion areas for cargo development and decided on the Northwest Runway where the former Ticona chemical plant was located. “Investors are always looking to the future, which means that we have to develop concepts today for tomorrow and after, in order to remain a highly attractive location for air freight in the long term,” states the executive.
With the plan to build a Logistic Center West, Fraport is responding to these wishes. For this task, 250,000 m² of floor space have been reserved. In addition, a permit for erecting freight facilities measuring 150,000 m² have been secured, says the manager. The accessibility of the future Logistics Center West is excellent. It is directly connected to two major motorways, a railroad line, and the Cargo CityNorth. Hence it is ideally suited for a trimodal cargo hub, Mr. Pruemm lauds.
A combination of criteria makes an airport attractive
When asked about competitors in Belgium, the Netherlands, and France, he says that the decision of cargo airlines in favor of an airport depends on a positive combination of certain factors: a high degree of reliability, fast throughput of shipments, acceptable and transparent price structures, a positive market environment, rapid customs clearance practices, and the compliance of import shipments, in particular, with legal and regulatory requirements.
Tense personnel situation
When asked about the personnel situation, he spoke of “challenging times”, comparable to Singapore or other major airports worldwide. Recruitment starts very early, Mr. Pruemm noted. Fraport, for example, offers dual study programs at universities of applied sciences, combining academic studies with in-house practical experience at the airport operator. However, the program is limited to a select group of participants. “We will recruit our next manager generation from this group of young talent, who will then take on responsibility and shape the future of our company.” As far as simpler jobs are concerned, AI, robotics and automation could make daily work at warehouses or on the apron a lot easier and the employees affected could qualify for new responsibilities. “Some projects are already part of our daily routines in air freight handling and throughput.”
