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DÜSSELDORF AIRPORT IS VERY DIFFERENT AFTER LAST YEARS FIRE
by Heiko ReuterSeventeen people were killed and 58 injured by the fire at the Düsseldorf airport on 11 April of last year. Smoke and toxic gases contaminated the airport terminals, thus leaving them unusable. In a short time, tents were set up as provisional buildings. Container buildings and mobile toilets lined the way along the deserted terminal buildings. Small boards with markers were used instead of large announcement displays: the flight numbers were written by hand. The number two of the German airports at that time had to cope with a huge challenge: with almost 40000 passengers per day, Düsseldorf had to give up its terminal from one minute to the other.
The fire in the terminal was caused by welding. What the fire did not destroy, was made unusable for years by smoke, soot, and toxic fumes. Just one central building, which was protected by a fire-wall, was still functioning.
The airport had to be closed and all aircraft were rerouted to neighboring airports. It took an immense effort to begin flight operations again two days later - however, very limited. Approximately two months after the fire, almost all of the airlines returned to the provisional buildings.
The "tent city" was functioning in spite of the chaos. After reopening the renovated terminal area C in the beginning of November of last year, something similar to normality returned to Düsseldorf. At least the era of tents was gone by then.
Still, the day when the airport was burning, has left deep scars. "Nothing is like it used to be", says the airport official Matthias Tümpel. Also, the balance of the airport shows the impact. Last year's revenues decreased by DM37 million, down to DM494 million. This was mainly due to the losses in rent and concession earnings. Rented tents, container, toilets, and numerous bus shuttle services, which are still connecting the check-in buildings today, accounted for more than DM40 million.
In 1996, the airport had to invest more than a quarter of a billion Marks into buildings and equipment. Just the sanitation of terminal C, the set-up of two provisional terminals and the expansion of gate area A for Lufthansa has cost DM 154 million. Even though the insurances paid DM245 million, the balance sheet shows a DM107,7 million loss. As a comparison: In 1995, the airport managed to achieve a DM36 million profit.
The airport also suffered in the number of passengers. The two days of closing the airport resulted in a loss of 730000 passengers. This is approximately equal to the number of passengers that the Berlin-Tempelhof city airport handles a year. Furthermore, the Düsseldorf airport lost its ranking as second most frequented airport in Germany to Munich. However, according to Düsseldorf officials, this was mainly due to Lufthansa's decision to expand Munich to its second hub along with Frankfurt. Nobody at the Rhine believes that Düsseldorf will be able to regain the second position. In particular, the politically prescribed aircraft movement limitation will prevent that.
For 1997, the airport operators expect a balanced result. They even hope to amortize 1996's loss.
Düsseldorf is striving to return back to normal. However, only after finishing the new terminal buildings will the airport have optimum conditions again. The first building phase is supposed to be completed by 2001. A remembrance shield is displayed in gate area C as a reminder on the casualties of the fire. Like other facilities in the airport, it is only there provisionally and will find its final place later.
From page 36 of FLUG REVUE 10/97
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