It doesn’t matter whether the destination is Calgary, Guanzghou, Minsk, or Mumbai − these flights are direct from Frankfurt Airport. The aviation hub offers fast links to the world, and almost all of Europe’s capital cities are less than three hours away. It takes only 12 hours to fly non-stop to Singapore, Johannesburg, or Los Angeles. For globally active companies there is particularly good access to international flights, which often establishes the basis for business success. From Frankfurt, you can reach 264 destinations in 113 countries on all six inhabited continents, without once changing planes.
There are almost hourly connections to the most important European capitals, and more distant cities including Chicago, New York, Singapore, and Shanghai, which are served four times a day. Planes from more than 100 airlines take off and land in Frankfurt. This diversity ensures genuine competition, and helps keep airfares affordable.
Well connected
Frankfurt Airport is Lufthansa’s home base and its most important hub − the airline’s flights account for one out of every two take-offs. The Star Alliance – which Lufthansa co-founded – is also headquartered in Frankfurt. Today it counts 27 member airlines, giving customers a dense global web of flight connections.
Nearly all of the Star Alliance airlines fly in and out of Frankfurt, and smooth cooperation between each makes changing planes within the alliance fast, simple, and convenient. The flights of all member airlines are handled at Terminal One, where Lufthansa also has its check-in counters.
The second-largest airline alliance, Oneworld – headed by British Airways – is also prominently represented in Frankfurt. Most of its members, ranging from Cathay Pacific to Finnair to Qantas, can all be found under one roof in Terminal Two. This ensures quick transfers between Oneworld flights. Overall, more than half of all passengers change planes in Frankfurt — where 45 minutes is enough time to catch your continuing flight.
Frankfurt is better connected to other modes of transportation than any other European airport. It is situated right alongside Germany’s most important motorway interchange, the Frankfurter Kreuz, where two of the country’s primary traffic arteries intersect one another – the A3 running in an east-west direction, and the north-south A5. This makes it fast and easy to get to Frankfurt Airport from any point of the compass.
Two train stations link the airport to the surrounding areas, and the high-speed rail network of the German rail, Deutsche Bahn. Each day, more than 170 ICE trains stop at Frankfurt Airport, and travel to Cologne or many other cities in less than an hour.
Located for business
Frankfurt features more than one of the world’s leading international aviation hubs. The city, the surrounding region, and the airport itself are appealing locations to conduct business. Consider the fact that Frankfurt has grown into Europe’s largest financial centre.
Nearly all of the world’s large banks have branches here – many, including the European Central Bank, are headquartered in the city. A large number of prominent international corporations of other industries are also based here.
Companies not only value the region’s excellent accessibility, concentrated economic power, and high standard of living, but also that it is open to the global community and thoroughly cosmopolitan. Nearly 200 nationalities live in the Rhine-Main region. Virtually everyone speaks English, including most of the German residents.
The greater Frankfurt metropolitan area is home to 5.5 million people, 2.8 million of whom work to earn a living. Frankfurt also boasts numerous important trade shows including the Frankfurt Motor Show for the automotive industry, and the International Book Fair. The exhibition grounds are conveniently located just 15 minutes from the airport.
The airport itself is also a popular location. It is Germany’s largest place of employment, with more than 75,000 jobs. More and more enterprises are recognising its advantages, opening offices right in the airport. The internationally active management consultancy company KPMG has moved its European headquarters to Frankfurt Airport, establishing a new base in the futuristic ‘Squaire’ structure. This 600-metre-long office complex perched on the roof of the long-distance train station is directly connected with Terminal One. At the same time, new offices are taking shape in the Gateway Gardens district on the airport premises.
The airport is, therefore, a popular venue for business meetings. Its conference centre next to Terminal One boasts 36 rooms for between two and 180 participants. They feature state-of-the-art communication technology and can be rented by the hour. Further conference and meeting rooms, with direct terminal access, are available in the Sheraton Hotel and the two Hilton Hotels in The Squaire.
If meeting for a business lunch or dinner, there are more than 70 bars and restaurants offering practically every imaginable cuisine. For spending the night, there are many hotels on the airport premises, ranging from budget to luxury, and international shopping with nearly 250 stores await.
A number of airlines operate their own lounges at Frankfurt Airport. They mainly target business travellers and aim to make their stay as pleasant as possible. The Luxx Lounge in Terminal One and the Sky Lounge in Terminal Two are open to everyone, however. The airport’s VIP service is something special but by no means restricted to politicians and celebrities, as any passenger can book in. In a separate area, personal assistants handle all formalities and drive passengers straight to their planes in a limousine.
The service programme
In order to improve its services further, the airport has launched the programme ‘Great to have you here!’, which is working to make the experience of departing or changing flights even more pleasant for passengers, starting with the attention given by airport personnel. It is also spending millions to create a more attractive ambience, improve the functioning of both terminals, and enhance its service.
In the terminals, around 500 service guides are on hand to assist, and can be identified by their red jackets. If digital communication is preferred, questions and suggestions can be posted on the airport’s Facebook or Twitter pages, as the social media team will respond quickly and competently.
Further information: www.frankfurt-airport.com, or download the free FRA airport app
