The hybrid aerial vehicle H-Aero during the test at Frankfurt Airport, Terminal 2.
H-Aero floats through the check-in halls surveying the airport / Various applications at the airport conceivable.
The H-Aero is a small, helium-filled hybrid aerial vehicle. From October 28 to 31, passengers at Frankfurt Airport were able to see it floating almost silently through Halls D and E in Terminal 2. Fraport AG joined forces with the start-up Hybrid-Airplane Technologies GmbH to carry out test flights assessing whether the aerial vehicle could be used to perform status checks in the terminals.
The H-Aero has approval to fly over people and combines the advantages of a balloon, airplane and helicopter in a single system. The hybrid aerial vehicle can perform a vertical take-off like a helicopter, for instance. It features a helium-filled, lens-shaped balloon that keeps it in the air as well as wings that can rotate 270° to steer it in all directions.
The idea behind the field test is to make life easier for employees performing status checks in the terminals. Instead of having to inspect the large terminal halls on foot, employees would be able to check the sites from the comfort of their desks with the help of camera images and use this to report any necessary clean-ups or repairs. The easier identification of incidents will contribute to traffic safety in the terminals. During the test, the H-Aero flew a pre-defined route through the check-in halls and used a thermal imaging camera to transmit images of the terminal. Going forward, with the help of AI technology, the H-Aero will be able to make its rounds and report any issues autonomously.
Alexander Laukenmann, head of Airside and Terminal Management, Corporate Safety and Security at Fraport AG, explained: “The use of innovative technology plays a pivotal role in all areas of airport operations – including ensuring traffic safety in our check-in halls. At Frankfurt Airport, we are already experimenting with technologies that many still consider to be in the realms of science fiction. The H-Aero innovative flight concept is a good example. We believe it has various potential applications that we will continue to investigate in the next stages.”
Csaba Singer, CEO of Hybrid-Airplane Technologies GmbH, said: “We are very grateful for Fraport AG’s openness to new technologies. Innovation has a real chance of success only if it is used to simplify processes and only if passengers and employees see it as socially acceptable. We have successfully demonstrated that both are possible over the past four days in Terminal 2 of Frankfurt Airport in what was a genuine world first.”
Fraport Group Interim Release – Nine Months 2019: Fraport Reports Solid Revenue and Earnings Performance
Growth momentum slowing down – Outlook for full year 2019 confirmed Fraport AG continued its growth trend in the first nine months of the 2019 business year, achieving an increase in both revenue and earnings. This positive performance was driven by solid traffic growth at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and the Fraport Group's airports worldwide. However, the growth momentum has been slowing down during the year to date.
Fraport AG's executive board chairman, Dr. Stefan Schulte, said: "Our industry is being impacted by the weaker global economy and consolidation of the European aviation market. Furthermore, regulatory interventions by the German government – such as the planned increase to the national air traffic tax – are also affecting our sector. After a phase of rapid traffic growth, airlines are cutting back their plans and thinning out their winter schedules. Nevertheless, we are maintaining our full-year outlook for the 2019 business year – also backed by the ongoing positive performance of our Group airports worldwide. Thanks to Fraport's large and diversified portfolio of international airports, we are well positioned for the future."
International activities boost growth in revenue and earnings In the January-to-September 2019 period, Fraport's Group revenue increased by 12.0 percent to 2,852.2 million euros year-on-year. After adjusting for proceeds related to expansion investments at the Group's airports worldwide (based on IFRIC 12), revenue rose by 5.2 percent to 2,486.7 million euros. At Frankfurt Airport, factors contributing to revenue growth included higher proceeds from ground handling services, airport and infrastructure charges, as well as security services. Retail, parking and advertising revenue also increased significantly. However, Fraport's international portfolio clearly continued to be the largest revenue driver. In particular, the Group company in Lima (up 30.5 million euros), Fraport Greece (up 25.4 million euros) and Fraport USA (up 21.8 million euros) contributed substantially to the Group's adjusted revenue growth.
The operating result or Group EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) rose by 7.7 percent to 948.2 million euros in the nine-month reporting period. The first-time application of IFRS 16 had a positive effect on EBITDA, adding 34.0 million euros year-on-year. From the beginning of January 2019, the mandatory IFRS 16 international financial reporting standard establishes new rules for the accounting of leases – specifically affecting the accounting of lease contracts concluded by Fraport USA. At the same time, the application of IFRS 16 alone resulted in a 32.8 million euros increase in depreciation and amortization. Group EBIT saw a correspondingly moderate rise of 2.6 percent to 595.3 million euros. The Group result (or net profit) grew noticeably by 9.4 percent to EUR413.5 million. This was due to the improved operating result, as well as the markedly higher contribution from the Group subsidiary in Antalya, which is consolidated using the at equity method.
Solid traffic performance achieved despite slowing growth momentum Passenger traffic at Frankfurt Airport advanced by a solid 2.3 percent to about 54.2 million travelers during the first nine months of the year. This growth momentum, however, decelerated noticeably over the course of the year. Based on current planning by the airlines, FRA will see a four percent reduction in the number of flights for the 2019/20 winter schedule (effective October 27) compared to the same schedule in the previous year. This reduction is due entirely to the 5.6 percent decline in European traffic, while scheduled intercontinental flights will climb by nearly 2 percent. Fraport's Group airports worldwide also saw passenger traffic largely increase in the first nine months, despite some airlines reducing flight offerings or even filing for bankruptcy. Only at the Fraport Twin Star airports of Varna and Burgas, combined passenger traffic dropped noticeably by 11.6 percent year-on-year.
Outlook confirmed
Fraport AG's executive board is maintaining its full-year traffic outlook for Frankfurt Airport. Given the reduction in flight offerings for the current winter schedule, FRA's passenger growth is expected to reach the lower end of the forecast range of about 2 percent to 3 percent. The executive board is also maintaining the financial outlook for the full 2019 business year. Group EBITDA is expected to be reach between approximately 1,160 million euros and 1,195 million euros, while Group EBIT is forecast between about EUR685 million and EUR725 million. Group EBT is projected to be around 570 million euros to 615 million euros, and the Group result (net profit) between approximately 420 million euros and 460 million euros.
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
