Düsseldorf International records positive year in 2007

Nicole Mezzasalma

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The airport said it will continue to pursue the development of non-aviation revenues this year

Airport authority Flughafen Düsseldorf has announced the 2007 results for Düsseldorf International airport. Total turnover grew by 6.5% to €401.8m ($639.7m) compared with the previous corresponding period, while profits increased by more than 64% to €32.5m ($51.7m). The company said in a statement that it has continued to “pursue the development of the non-aviation area” as an important source of earnings.

Flughafen Düsseldorf commercial director Thomas Schnalke said: “We have begun to increase retail and parking opportunities significantly in order to match the increasing importance of the airport as a hub and growing user requirements.”

Management board spokesman Christoph Blume added: “Düsseldorf airport continued its course in 2007, again significantly exceeding the previous year’s good results, commercially and in terms of traffic development. These positive results confirm our strategy of deliberately aligning the company with the market and continuing to develop other areas of business in addition to aviation, thereby developing the airport location.”

Düsseldorf International airport said it plans to invest about €300m ($477.7m) over the next three years to “continue satisfying the requirements that an air traffic hub entails”, including improving the operational infrastructure and extending the retail and food and beverage offer for passengers. The airport registered 17.8m passengers in 2007, a rise of 7.5% on the previous year.