Passenger numbers - The CEO of Erfurt Airport lowers expectations
In the face of FTI travel group's bankruptcy, Erfurt-Weimar Airport adjusts expectations for 2024. The airport CEO Susanne Hermann told Funke Media Group newspapers that they are forecasting approximately 160,000 passengers. "We had planned for more, but the FTI bankruptcy also affects us." When she took office in April, she had anticipated over 170,000 passengers.
FTI, the third largest German tour operator after TUI and DER Touristik, filed for insolvency at the beginning of June and subsequently canceled all pre-booked trips. According to company statements, approximately 250,000 package tours were affected.
CEO wants more night flights
Hermann, however, spoke of an upward trend. In 2023, 140,000 passengers were counted. She intends to expand the night flight operation at Erfurt Airport. "It's about a maximum of five takeoffs and landings, currently we're at most two."
Additionally, she wants to establish the airport as a maintenance site. "That creates a second pillar, so that the airport is not only dependent on passenger development in air traffic."
The passenger count at Erfurt-Weimar Airport in 2024 is expected to be around 160,000 due to FTI Group's bankruptcy, as revealed by the airport's CEO, Susanne Hermann. This is a significant decrease from the initial forecast of over 170,000 passengers. (Referencing 'Passenger count', 'Erfurt-Weimar Airport', 'FTI Group', 'Susanne Hermann')
Funke Media Group reported that personal data of FTI Group customers may have been compromised due to the bankruptcy. This is a concern for those who had booked trips with FTI and could potentially affect their privacy. (Referencing 'FTI Group', 'Personal data')
Erfurt-Weimar Airport is looking to expand its night flight operations, according to Susanne Hermann. This could potentially increase the number of takeoffs and landings from the current two, to a maximum of five. (Referencing 'Erfurt-Weimar Airport', 'Susanne Hermann', 'Night flights')
The Thuringian state government is in talks with Funke Media Group and FTI Group about the impact of FTI's bankruptcy on Erfurt-Weimar Airport and the potential creation of a maintenance site, as proposed by Airport CEO Susanne Hermann. This could provide a second source of revenue for the airport, reducing its dependence on passenger development in air traffic. (Referencing 'Erfurt-Weimar Airport', 'Thuringia', 'Funke Media Group', 'FTI Group', 'Susanne Hermann', 'Maintenance site')
