Passenger Numbers Up at Frankfurt

Confirming the travel industry's reports of a recovery in passenger numbers, Frankfurt airport said Thursday that its July passenger numbers were up 5.6 percent from the same month last year. The airport operator Fraport said that nearly 4.8 million passengers used the airport in July. Last year, fewer people were travelling because of the Iraq war, fears over the SARS outbreak, and the general economic downturn. Fraport reported the most noticeable increase in travel to popular sun destinations, such as Spain, Egypt and Tunisia. The operator also said that Frankfurt airport -- continental Europe's busiest -- handled 16 percent more air freight than in July of last year.