Feared Frankfurt night-flight ban prompts FedEx hub to move to Cologne

 FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp, will relocate its largest German hub from Frankfurt/Main to the Cologne/Bonn airport in 2010 because of an expected night flight ban.

"Due to a potential ban on night flights, the Frankfurt/Main location cannot provide FedEx with long-term planning reliability," explained local Fedex vice president Michael Muhlberger in a company statement.

FedEx and airport operator Flughafen Koln/Bonn GmbH, have signed a co-operation agreement. A new ramp and sorting facilities will be built on a total floor space of 50,000 square metres.

Fedex said the Rhine/Main region will continue to play an important role for FedEx's intercontinental and Europe services. Therefore, a part of the workforce will continue to work in Frankfurt in the future. In addition, new jobs will be created in the Cologne/Bonn region.

Cologne airport, said the Fedex statement, offers "great air traffic capacities". With a volume of 698,000 tons, it is the second-largest cargo airport in Germany and has long experience in collaborating with air cargo and express service providers. Due to its proximity to highways, railway transport and the Rhine, the airport is ideal for air cargo, the company said.

Michael Garvens, chairman of Flughafen Koln/Bonn GmbH, said, "I am looking forward to collaborating with FedEx Express. The relocation is a great gain for the Cologne/Bonn airport as well as for the whole region."