In a sign that international freight is recovering from the economic downturn, Fraport International Airport has announced it will expand its CargoCity South freight complex by 27 hectares.

Airport operator Fraport AG is inviting logistics and freight forwarding companies to develop the new space which covers the equivalent of 35 football pitches into cargo halls, office buildings and parking.

"Airfreight is booming due to the increasing integration of the German economy and the international division of labor. At the same time, global supply chains are becoming increasingly complex and requirements for efficient and expeditious cargo handling are rising rapidly," said Herbert Mai, Fraport's executive board member responsible for real estate.

Phase one will see some 30,000sqm of hall space developed, with Fraport AG predicting logistics buildings of between 3,000 and 25,000sqm could be built on the site.

By Oliver Clark