Fraport maintains 2026 outlook as Frankfurt traffic slips amid Middle East disruption

Fraport handled 77.7 million passengers across its global airport network in the first half of 2026, up 1.0% year-on-year, despite weaker traffic at its main hub in Frankfurt caused by geopolitical tensions, strikes and reduced airline capacity.

At Frankfurt Airport, passenger traffic fell 0.8% in the first six months of 2026 to 28.9 million passengers, including a 1.7% decline in June to 5.7 million travellers. The airport was particularly affected by the conflict in Iran, which led to a 35% drop in Middle East traffic during the first half of the year. Around 700,000 passengers were also impacted by Lufthansa strikes.

While Middle East demand remained depressed, Frankfurt saw strong growth on routes to Africa (+8.0%) and the Far East (+6.4%), while long-haul traffic to Latin America also increased. Cargo performance remained positive, with Frankfurt handling 1.0 million tonnes of freight in H1 2026, up 1.0%, including a 2.0% increase in June.

Fraport CEO Dr Stefan Schulte said the combination of strikes, the Iran conflict, higher oil prices and concerns over jet fuel availability had weighed on passenger demand. The company now expects Frankfurt’s full-year passenger numbers to remain broadly at 2025 levels, but continues to consider its 2026 financial targets achievable.

Fraport’s international airport portfolio continued to perform better, with growth recorded at several locations. Passenger traffic increased at Ljubljana (+12.7%), Greece’s 14 airports (+4.7%), Burgas and Varna in Bulgaria (+8.0%), and Fortaleza and Porto Alegre in Brazil (+2.0%). However, traffic at Antalya Airport in Turkey declined by 9.6% due to higher tourism prices and geopolitical uncertainty.

Overall, airports actively managed by Fraport handled 19.7 million passengers in June, down 1.1% year-on-year, while first-half Group traffic reached 77.7 million passengers, confirming continued growth outside Frankfurt.