Geneva - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) today welcomed the decision of the Hessen State Court to approve the construction of a fourth runway and Terminal 3 at Frankfurt’s Rhein-Main Airport.
“This is an important decision for Germany because a strong, competitive aviation sector with the right infrastructure supports employment and economic growth,” said Giovanni Bisignani, Director General and CEO of IATA. “However, while the decision on expansion is welcomed, the proposed restriction on night flights is not. Frankfurt is a global hub that needs global connectivity. Severe restrictions on night flights constrain international cargo operations and will hurt economic growth. This should be reconsidered in a future court ruling.”
“Aviation takes its environmental responsibilities seriously with a vision for carbon-neutral growth en-route to a carbon-free future,” said Bisignani. “Our track record is good. Aircraft are 70% more fuel-efficient and 75% quieter than they were 40 years ago. And the global fleet is getting even quieter and more fuel efficient. In the first 11 months of 2008 1,037 new aircraft - with improved fuel efficiencies of 20-30% - were delivered while 881 inefficient old aircraft were parked. All of these improvements will contribute to a 4.5% drop in emissions in 2009 and minimise the environmental impact of aviation in Frankfurt and worldwide in the future.”
Notes for editors:
- IATA (International Air Transport Association) represents some 230 airlines comprising 93% of scheduled international air traffic.
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