Give 'Em A Hahn

     “Give ’em a Hahn,” as the new Bucher Cargo Center in the North Cargo Area of Frankfurt-Hahn Airport opened this week on Monday November 27.
     The 6,800 square meter cargo terminal includes an office building plus direct access to the airport's new cargo ramp area.
     Cost is put at around six million euros.

     Maria Muller (FlyingTypers Woman of the Year 2006) Hahn Airport said:
     “Now that the new terminal is starting operations, it will be possible to handle cargo with even better service delivery. Plus airlines and handling companies are afforded point of service office space to both watch over consignments and develop even more on airport initiatives for their products.”
     Worth noting is, Bucher's subsidiary Hahn Cargo Services GmbH (HCS) will mainly be handling orders from Fraport Cargo Services GmbH (FCS), a subsidiary of Fraport AG.
     In 2006, the second year HCS has been in business, the company is expected to move approx. 36,000 metric tons of air cargo.
     A total of around 85,000 metric tons of air cargo moved through Frankfurt-Hahn Airport from January to October 2006. That number represents about an 18 percent jump above the same time last year.
     Frankfurt-Hahn is the fourth-largest cargo airport in Germany.

Air Canada New Look Europe

     Air Canada Cargo realigns Team Europe and FlyingTypers has first picture!
     Here is the new European side of the Air Canada Cargo Transatlantic connection.
     With Martin Bittner departed Germany to lead the cargo effort for the Americas, this nice looking bunch steps up as the face of ACC Europe based in London and Frankfurt respectively.
     Pictured left to right—Michael H. Sauer, Manager Cargo Sales, Germany and Northern Europe; Mark Olny, newly assigned General Manager Air Canada Cargo for Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa; Patrik Tschirch, top executive for cargo operations on the Continent and Jean-Christophe Herault, Manager Cargo Sales Europe.
     “It’s all good,” Mark Olny assures.
     “Business is growing and with new cargo friendly B777s and other aircraft scheduled for delivery we expect to serve the market with even more options.”

Pictured at recent Fraport press gag, Chairman of the Board Dr. Wilhelm Bender - second from left turns attention and business to Dr. Stefan Schulte, left, incoming Deputy Chairman in charge of “finance & construction”. Next in line is retiring Prof. Dr. Schoelch, “father” of Cargo City South and Fraport board member Herbert Mai.

The press conference trumpeting the outstanding financial result of Fraport included its activities and business in Frankfurt-Hahn (Germany), Antalya (Turkey), Hannover (Germany), Lima (Peru that is), Saarbrucken (Germany) and Frankfurt (Germany) itself - achieved during the first three quarters of this year - was great for the shareholders and gratifying for the board.
     Turnover increased by 3.6 % to EUR 1.62 billion for the nine-month period compared with the same period in 2005.
     The profit resulting from this moderate revenue increase jumped up by 48 % to better than EUR 200 million.
     There was little detailed mention, as numbers brought smiles all around, about passengers, cargo and mail.
     Focus nowadays seems to be on the real estate growth strategy of Fraport AG.
     Shareholder value is also a key motor for Fraport. There is hardly any other aerial gateway or other commercial real estate in Europe where one square meter in the concession sales area delivers the kind of profit as does FRA.
     When you compare passenger concession revenue numbers to the rather flat return from the sprawling air cargo complex, and then start thinking about the switch of Asiana from Fraport Cargo Services with its better than 3,000 tons per month to another handling partner, what is happening here may not seem unusual.
     The paradox is that like it or not, Frankfurt is still the top air cargo gateway in Europe, and many feel simply cannot allow its position to fritter away.
     But while everyone waits for the next shoe to drop any good handicapper can tell you what happens next is almost a sure thing.
     Just follow the money.