Infrastructure.

Airports provide the necessary ground infrastructure for air traffic. This infrastructure must meet certain requirements, such as protecting against external threats. Additionally, airports are subject to various regulations, including designated operating hours and approval processes for the construction or expansion of infrastructure.

Components of Airport Infrastructure

Key airport infrastructure includes check-in counters, baggage handling systems, waiting areas, and passenger bridges in the terminal. On the airfield, essential infrastructure includes refueling stations, ground handling infrastructure, vehicle de-icing, and fresh water supply.

Additionally, airports must be secured with fencing in accordance with applicable regulations. To ensure safety at airports, they develop individual security concepts in collaboration with local aviation and police authorities, which are regularly reviewed by national and European agencies.

Airport Areas

Airports are divided into two areas:

• Landside: This is the public area of the airport, which can be accessed without security checks. It includes areas such as the check-in counters and terminal entrances.
• Airside: The airside includes all the secure areas of the airport, from the gate waiting areas to the airfield with the aircraft. Passengers, their luggage, employees, vehicles, and goods can only enter this area after passing security checks.

Planning, Approval, and Construction of Airports

Building or expanding an airport is a complex process with significant regional impact. Before construction, there are extensive planning and approval processes for new infrastructure and flight routes. These procedures assess the project’s impact on the surrounding area and involve discussions with the public at various stages. Key steps before construction approval in Germany include the regional planning procedure and the planning approval process.

The regional planning procedure is managed by the respective state planning authority, which involves the airport operator, regulatory authorities, environmental groups, and the public in the process.

The planning approval process follows the regional planning procedure and informs citizens about the project plans, allowing them to raise objections, which are then discussed. This process is essential for approving large projects like airport construction or expansion, and its decision is legally binding.

Determining Flight Routes and Procedures

After a construction project is approved, flight routes and procedures are determined in a separate process. Planning focuses on safety, orderly and efficient air traffic, and noise protection. Flight procedures are established by legal regulations through the Bundesaufsichtsamt für Flugsicherung (BAF, Federal Supervisory Authority for Air Traffic Control), which is responsible for the overall process. Planning is carried out by Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS).

Operating Hours at German Airports

Operating hours at most German airports are heavily restricted, and there are absolute night flight bans in place. Due to noise protection measures, flights are generally only allowed between 6:00 AM and 11:00 PM. At many airports, not only are nighttime hours restricted, but also the adjacent early morning and late evening hours.

These early morning hours (from 5:00 AM to 6:00 AM) and late evening hours (from 10:00 PM to midnight) are especially important for airlines. For example, at Frankfurt Airport, long-haul aircraft from America or Asia land almost exclusively in the early morning hours. Passengers then transfer to the first wave of flights to destinations across Europe. In the evening, the last wave of arrivals from Europe connects passengers to numerous flights to overseas destinations.

Competitive Disadvantages Due to Restricted Operating Hours

The heavily restricted operating hours in Germany have increasingly put German airports at a competitive disadvantage compared to international locations.

Airlines that operate at airports abroad with night operations are significantly more productive: They can take off and land more frequently, transporting more passengers and cargo than at airports with night flight restrictions. The more flights operated, the higher the revenue for airlines and airports. As a result, airports without extensive operating restrictions or night flight bans are more attractive to airlines.

This is particularly relevant for point-to-point carriers, which do not operate through hubs but can easily relocate their bases to airports offering more flight opportunities. As a result, new jobs are created at these airports.

The aviation industry believes that 24/7 operations are not necessary at all German airports. However, they advocate for maintaining the existing operating hours at German airports and ensuring that a sufficient number of airports with night flight availability are guaranteed, as they are essential for the continued development of Germany’s economy.