Portrait Airport

Cologne Bonn Airport is one of the most important commercial airports in Germany and has expanded extremely quickly in the last few years. Since 2002, Cologne Bonn Airport has been focusing increasingly on low-cost business and is one of the front runners in this sector in Europe. Every year, almost 10 million passengers choose to take off or land at the Airport where everything is close at hand – in a nationwide comparison, this ranks the Airport number six. 35 airlines fly out of Cologne to more than 100 destinations. Cargo business, a second business mainstay of the Airport, is also flourishing: again in 2012, the cargo volume will increase by almost 8 percent to 800,000 tonnes. With this volume, Cologne Bonn Airport is among the top ten in Europe.

Geographically, Cologne/Bonn is situated in one of the most densely populated regions in Europe – some 16 million people live and work within a radius of 100 kilometres of the Airport. The Airport is also at the centre of one of the largest import/export regions: some 40 percent of the gross domestic product of the EU is generated within a radius of 400 kilometres around the Airport.

Cologne/Bonn Airport has three runways, the longest of which, with its 3,815 metres, is the only real intercontinental runway in NRW. The Airport is easily and quickly reached by road – motorway or expressway – and rail. The underground Airport Railway Station is a link between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. For passengers coming to the Airport by car, there are three car parks with a total of 12,600 parking lots. To make sure that passengers get to their destination as quickly and comfortably as possible, the terminals have 86 check-in desks; a modern baggage handling system transports up to 3,000 cases and bags every hour. 55 Gates and 19 boarding bridges bring the passengers swiftly to the aircraft.

With an annual cargo volume of more than 740,000 tonnes, Cologne Bonn Airport is number three among the German cargo airports, behind Frankfurt and Leipzig. On a European basis, Cologne/Bonn has a top position when it comes to express cargo traffic. The worldwide largest express cargo airlines fly into Cologne Bonn Airport. UPS has its European hub here, and in 2010, FedEx followed suit as another global player. The sector General Cargo is also on the growth curve.

Cologne Bonn Airport has a 24-hour operating licence, which has been extended until 2030. The express cargo traffic is mainly handled during the night, to ensure that urgent shipments can be delivered to their destinations the day after they were dispatched. In view of the export-orientation of the German economy, this is an absolute prerequisite for remaining competitive. 16 cargo airlines fly to 75 destinations in 35 countries around the globe. 

More than 12,000 people work at Cologne Bonn Airport. In the region, 24,000 jobs are dependent on Airport – studies have shown that nationwide, the figure is even 37,000. The Airport Company itself employs some 1,800 people.

Cologne Bonn Airport is also a shopping paradise. In both Terminals, there are more than 50 shops, bars and restaurants over 10,000 square metres. The scope of products ranges from up-market menswear or original ladies’ accessories to coffee specialities by Starbucks. Many of the shops are outside the security area on the land side, so visitors and people meeting passengers arriving can also enjoy that special Airport flair. A medical centre, a pharmacy and a 24-hour REWE supermarket round off the range on offer.