Frankfurt Airport is pushing to set up a national alliance of German airports to compete with other major European hubs such as Amsterdam, London and Paris.
The move follows on the heels of a proposal from Amsterdam Schiphol and Aer Rianta of Ireland to run airports at Amsterdam, Brussels and Charleroi as a single entity (Flight International, 28 May-3 June).
"We only have a chance on the international market if we work together. The more airports participate, the stronger our position in the market," says Frankfurt Airport. It will now begin talks with other operators aimed at founding a German airports company "as quickly as possible". It adds that the cost savings made by co-ordinating airport strategies would be passed on to airlines in the form of lower landing fees.
A series of airport privatisations are already planned by Germany's federal and regional governments, under pressure from severe budget constraints, and Frankfurt Airport says that it plans to be among the bidders. It adds that private capital will be essential in funding the estimated DM30 billion ($18 billion) needed to update and expand the country's airport infrastructure.
The regional government of North Rhein Westfalia is planning to sell its 50% stake in Düsseldorf airport in the third quarter. Frankfurt is expected to be joined in the bidding by the UK's BAA, the US-based Airport Group International and Amsterdam Schiphol, as well as Aeroports de Paris and the Vienna Airport company.
Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Cologne/Bonn airports are also on the Federal Government's privatisation list, says Frankfurt. Düsseldorf and Cologne/Bonn, which are now 30% state-owned, would be ideal as initial partners in a nationwide airport alliance, it adds.
The three airports are relatively close together, says the company, and will be linked from the year 2000 by high-speed trains travelling from Frankfurt to Düsseldorf within an hour. They will then be seen as a single unit on the international market, says Frankfurt.
The ownership of Frankfurt Airport itself is divided among the city (28.9%), the state of Hessen (45.2%) and the Federal Government (25.9%). The airport company says that it wants to increase its capital by an injection of what will probably be private cash, as Frankfurt and Hessen are not expected to contribute because of their budget difficulties, while the Federal Government is planning to sell its stake.
Source: Flight International
