Frankfurt Airport operator sees turnover up despite Iran war, strikes

The operator of Germany's largest airport in Frankfurt has reported an increase in turnover in the first quarter of 2026 despite the war in Iran and strike action at Lufthansa. 

Fraport said that turnover rose 1.6% to €882 million ($1.03 billion) over the first three months of the year. 

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose by just over 10% to €196 million. Shareholders incurred a seasonal loss of just under €18 million, slightly more than in the previous year. 

The company - which operates dozens of airports across countries such as Turkey, Peru and Greece - performed better across the board than analysts had expected, with the first quarter of the year typically seeing fewer passengers. 

The strong results came amid challenging geopolitical conditions, with the war in the Middle East leading to major disruption while several rounds of strikes by pilots and cabin crew at German flag carrier Lufthansa. 

The airline has been able to offset a decline in traffic to the conflict-hit region with growth elsewhere, particularly in Asia, although concerns remain that the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could affect the jet fuel supply to Europe.

“For the full year, we are sticking to our forecast for 2026, based in particular on the German government’s statements regarding the current security of kerosene supplies,” said chief executive Stefan Schulte. 

Despite the crises, Fraport continues to expect around 188 to 195 million passengers across the group and 65 to 66 million at Frankfurt Airport. EBITDA is set to rise to up to €1.5 billion as planned.