Cologne/Bonn receives travelers: Bond voice announces return at the airport!

Cologne/Bonn receives travelers: Bond voice announces return at the airport!

On March 18, 2025, a small piece of film history will be revived at Cologne/Bonn Airport. The iconic announcement "Welcome to Bonn, Cologne/Bonn", spoken by Frank Glaubrecht, the German voice of Pierce Brosnan, returns and is regularly played in the arrival area of ​​the airport. This announcement, which refers to the famous film quotation "My name is Bond, James Bond", was first initiated in 2007 by the marketing department of the airport operator.

The return of the announcement was eagerly awaited by many passengers, who, during the Corona pandemic, have greatly missed the break of air traffic and the associated hiring of the announcement. The announcement in the arrival area and the luggage ribbons will be heard several times an hour, which is a nostalgic welcome for many travelers.

investments and infrastructural developments

In addition to the return of the announcement, the Cologne/Bonn GmbH Airport plans to reopen the hand luggage output by the end of March 2023 after being closed during the pandemic. This decision is based on the need to adapt the route at the airport. The operator has invested 800,000 euros for this. The closure of the hand luggage output had previously caused a lack of understanding, which is why the reopening is welcomed.

In the current situation of European air traffic, a clear recovery process is emerging. In 2024, the level of 2019 was almost reached, with 10.7 million flights in European airspace and an increase in passengers by seven percent compared to 2023. In particular, demand was strong in southern Europe, while North and Eastern Europe remained behind the figures from 2019.

market developments and challenges

The recovery of air traffic also brings challenges. Bottlenecks in the infrastructure still seem to be a problem, and the average departure delay is currently 17.5 minutes. Despite a slight decline in kerosene prices by ten percent in 2024, operating costs remain an issue. Eurocontrol expects the flight number to return to the level of 2019, especially through the growing intercontinental traffic from Asia.

In this context, the Cologne/Bonn GmbH Airport is trying to offer passengers an optimal travel experience and respond to their feedback. With the resumption of the famous announcement and the planned infrastructural changes, a positive development is sought in order to meet the customs before pandemy.

For more information on current topics about Cologne/Bonn Airport, you can see the official information on the website of the Köln/Bonn GmbH . EuroControl also offers insights on the development of European air traffic under this link . It remains to be seen how the market will develop and what new challenges will be pending in the future.