Noise abatement commission presents results of review of the operational concept and of draft noise protection zone 2033 / Noise protection package recognised as a 'key component'
The Frankfurt noise abatement commission (FLK) has today held an extraordinary meeting to once again consider the refined operational concept for Frankfurt Airport. The members adopted the submitted resolution. This means that the commission has taken note of the operational concept and the draft noise protection zone for 2033 in its advisory capacity. The additional noise protection package developed by Fraport, DFS and the Hessian Ministry of Economics, Energy, Transport, Housing and Rural Areas (HMWVW) is expressly welcomed.
"The refined operational concept ensures that safe, orderly and expeditious operations will continue to be possible at Frankfurt Airport in the future," said Dr Pierre Dominique Prümm, Chief Technical Officer at Fraport AG. "The noise abatement commission recognises this need. Over the past few months, we have engaged in a very constructive dialogue with all stakeholders and have jointly developed a comprehensive noise protection package that we are fully committed to. We would like to thank all parties involved. Fraport will actively support all further steps, and we remain in dialogue with the region."
Dirk Mahns, Chief Operating Officer on the DFS Executive Board, explained: "To fulfil our responsibility for managing air traffic at Frankfurt Airport on the one hand, and for protecting the local population on the other – even under changed conditions – the outcome of the noise abatement commission's consultation is an important step for us.
The committee's statement demonstrates to me that constructive and critical dialogue between aviation stakeholders and the region is possible and necessary even under difficult conditions, which I greatly appreciate."
DFS will apply to the Federal Supervisory Authority for Air Navigation Services (BAF) for the necessary amendment to the implementing regulation on flight procedures at Frankfurt Airport. This is a prerequisite for the refined operational concept to be implemented as soon as capacity requirements make it necessary.
The refined concept is rooted in operational necessities and provides for more frequent use of the existing north-westerly departure routes when air traffic volumes warrant it. More than 90 percent of all aircraft movements will remain unchanged.
At the FLK meeting on 5 May 2026, Fraport and DFS had already presented the background information on the refined concept. In this context, the HMWVW confirmed that the impacts of the refined concept comply with the terms of the planning approval procedure and provided information on preliminary calculations regarding the noise protection zone. These calculations show that, overall, the refined operational concept will result in no more people being affected by noise in the region than under the current one.
You can find further information on the refined operational concept in German here.
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Media contact:
DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH
Tanja Frisch
Telephone: +49 6103 707-4162
presse@dfs.de
Fraport AG
Maria Linden
Telephone: +49 69 690-70557
presse@fraport.de
www.fraport.com
DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH, the German air navigation service provider, is a State-owned company under private law with around 5,800 employees as at 31 December 2025. DFS ensures the safe and punctual flow of air traffic over Germany. Around 2,200 air traffic controllers guide more than three million flights through German airspace in peak years, up to 10,000 every day. The company operates control centres in Bremen, Karlsruhe, Langen and Munich as well as control towers at the 15 designated international airports in Germany. The subsidiary DFS Aviation Services GmbH markets and sells products and services related to air navigation services, and provides air traffic control at nine regional airports in Germany and at Edinburgh Airport in the UK. DFS is working on the integration of drones into air traffic and has set up a joint venture, Droniq GmbH, with Deutsche Telekom. Other subsidiaries include R. Eisenschmidt GmbH, which markets publications and products for general aviation, and Kaufbeuren ATM Training GmbH (KAT), which provides training for military air traffic services personnel. The joint venture FCS Flight Calibration Services GmbH offers flight inspection services.