Frankfurt Airport recorded a modest increase in air cargo volumes in 2025, reflecting a gradual recovery in global trade flows and stronger demand across key industrial sectors.
The uptick was supported by improving manufacturing activity in Europe, stabilising supply chains, and firmer e‑commerce and pharmaceutical shipments, which helped offset lingering geopolitical and macroeconomic pressures.
The busiest cargo airport in Europe, handling more freight than any other European hub, Frankfurt Airport reported a 1.1% year-on-year growth in cargo volumes — comprising airfreight and airmail — last year to around 2.1 million metric tons.
The number of aircraft movements climbed by 4.4% for the year to 460,272 takeoffs and landings. Accumulated maximum takeoff weights (or MTOWs) were around 28.5 million metric tons. This represented an increase of 2.5% compared with 2024.
Stefan Schulte, CEO of Fraport AG, said the group saw solid growth across its global airport portfolio in 2025, with several international locations posting new performance milestones following recent capacity expansions in markets such as Lima and Antalya. He noted that these developments have strengthened the foundation for further growth across the network, even as the German market continues to trail other parts of Europe in its post‑pandemic recovery.
Schulte added that recent relief measures introduced by the German Federal Government are a step toward improving the industry’s competitiveness, but additional action will be needed for Germany—and Frankfurt—to keep pace with faster‑growing European peers.
(Source: Frankfurt Airport)
December cargo volumes
In the last month of 2025, cargo volumes rose to 173,610 metric tons, up 2.6% compared to December 2024. The number of aircraft movements increased by 4.2% to 34,711 takeoffs and landings.
Month-on-month, December's cargo volumes were also higher compared to the 186,692 metric tons recorded in November 2025.
Meanwhile, at around 2.2 million metric tons, total MTOWs in December were around 2.2% higher than in the same month of 2024.
The airport’s performance was supported by firmer demand from automotive, machinery, and pharmaceutical shippers, alongside a gradual normalisation of global supply chains that improved schedule reliability and bellyhold capacity.
Industry analysts also pointed to steadier economic conditions in key export markets and a rebound in ecommerce flows as contributing factors, helping Frankfurt maintain its position as one of Europe's primary cargo gateways despite persistent geopolitical and cost pressures.
