At the end of 1997, HOCHTIEF AirPort won the bidding for Düsseldorf International, the first partial privatization of an airport in Germany. HTA and HTAC today hold 30 percent of the shares, while Aer Rianta holds 20 percent. The City of Düsseldorf has retained a 50 percent interest.

Düsseldorf International set a new record for passenger numbers in 2008 by passing the 18-million threshold.

HTA's activities initially focused on completely restructuring and streamlining the airport company's organization. HTA also put a great deal of work into identifying development potential for the airport outside the prime field of aviation. One result of this: on a 23-hectare former barracks site in the immediate vicinity of the terminal, an airport-owned business park is currently being erected. By the time it is completed, in 2013, Airport City will house a considerable number of internationally active companies.

So January 2008 saw the start of one of the biggest expansion programs in the HTA portfolio. The airport company is investing around 300 million euros, 200 million of which will go into developing the infrastructure. Since May 2008, for instance, Terminal C is reserved exclusively for non-Schengen traffic. Passenger and security controls have been set up in a new airside connection between Terminals B and C to facilitate transit traffic.

Terminal carpark 7 with 3,000 new parking lots was opened in June 2009 and is a twin building of the rental car center opened in May. A passenger bridge connects the two buildings directly with the terminal. By making the new center the base for car rental, the airport increased its parking space offer for passengers by a total of about 3,500 new lots. Both projects are part of the airport company's investment program with a volume of 200 million Euro for infrastructure expansion.

Terminal A is also being converted in order to handle transfer passengers for Lufthansa. Düsseldorf International is investing a further 100 million euros in the airport's range of retail outlets and catering facilities.