Hamburg Airport welcomes 17-millionth passenger for 2017

For the first time in its almost 107-year history, Hamburg Airport has crossed the mark of 17 million passengers in one year. The 17-millionth passenger for this year was Timo Heidorn, who flew from Hamburg today with Lufthansa. Michael Eggenschwiler, CEO of Hamburg Airport, and Silke Wobken, Sales Director of the Lufthansa Group for northern Germany, welcomed the jubilee passenger at check-in this morning.

“North Germany’s travellers have made even more use of the diverse route network of the airlines at Hamburg Airport this year than in previous years. This shows that Hamburg Airport is fulfilling its public duty of ensuring the region’s mobility,” says Michael Eggenschwiler. “At the start of 2017, we could not have believed that the number of passengers would grow so strongly again. But this growth of between seven and eight percent underlines a trend: flying today is much more than just the annual summer break or a business-class trip. The aeroplane has become a completely normal means of transport; for some people, it is a regular part of family life. It connects friends and acquaintances across national boundaries and even continents.”

Lufthansa: a long-term partner of the airport
Lufthansa is one of Hamburg Airport’s longest standing partners. The old Luft Hansa, established in 1926, was active in Hamburg, as were its corporate predecessors. Since the re-establishment of Lufthansa in the 1950s, the partnership between the airline and the airport has continued to develop successfully, and Lufthansa Technik also has its home base here. “All of the airlines within the Lufthansa Group, including Eurowings, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Swiss, serve to connect Hamburg with Europe and the world,” emphasises Silke Wobken. “Together, we welcomed significantly more than 7 million passengers on more than 61,000 flights this year, and we anticipate strong passenger growth in 2018, too.”

The Lufthansa routes to Frankfurt and Munich are the two busiest from Hamburg
Airport in terms of passenger numbers. As well as the many northern Germans
making city trips or business trips to the cities on the Main and the Isar, a lot of
passengers make use of the optimal transfer options at Lufthansa’s hubs in Frankfurt
and Munich.

Hamburg Airport ensures the mobility of northern Germans
Hamburg Airport offers a comprehensive route network for travellers from the city
and from throughout northern Germany. Around 60 airlines fly directly to 130
domestic and international destinations. Hamburg Airport’s good connectivity with
hubs means that passengers can reach well over 1,000 destinations with just a single
transfer to a connecting flight. And this option is becoming increasingly popular.
According to current forecasts, the passenger volume for 2017 will exceed 17 million
by year’s end. In comparison to 2016, then, Hamburg Airport will report passenger
growth of between seven and eight percent.

Image: Michael Eggenschwiler and Silke Wobken welcome Timo Heidorn, the 17-
millionth passenger at Hamburg Airport.

Photo acknowledgements: Michael Penner