During September, passenger traffic across the European airport network grew by an average +6.2%, in line with the average growth registered over Q3 (+6.3%). At EU airports, the average passenger traffic growth was +6.3% (+6.3% also for Q3), while passenger traffic at Non-EU airports reported growth of +5.8% (+6.4% for Q3).
BRUSSELS – European airport trade body, ACI Europe released its traffic report for September & Q3 2015. The report is the only air transport report which includes all types of civil aviation passenger flights: network, low cost, charter and others.
During September, passenger traffic across the European airport network grew by an average +6.2%, in line with the average growth registered over Q3 (+6.3%). At EU airports, the average passenger traffic growth was +6.3% (+6.3% also for Q3), while passenger traffic at Non-EU airports reported growth of +5.8% (+6.4% for Q3).
Olivier Jankovec, Director General ACI Europe commented “With the exception of Russia and Norway, passenger traffic growth has been extremely dynamic over the peak summer months across Europe for all segments of the airport industry. Within the EU, airports in Hungary, Ireland, Romania, Slovenia and Luxembourg have posted double digit growth – while the Lufthansa strikes in September have weighed on the performance of German airports. Conversely, several French airports benefitted from strong comparison with September last year – when a 2 weeks strike by Air France pilots severely depressed traffic. Outside the EU, airports in Moldova, Israel, Iceland, Georgia and FYROM all grew in excess of 20% and Ukrainian airports have achieved a significant return to growth. Turkish airports have continued to perform very well – although a couple of airports serving prime tourism destinations have been affected by decreasing traffic from Russia.”
He added: “Domestic consumption is now the main driver for economic growth in Europe, on the back of continued low oil prices. This is particularly the case in the Eurozone, where GDP growth is steady – although still weak. This makes for a mostly positive scenario for passenger traffic in the months ahead. However, shrinking exports remain a risk due to the weakness of emerging economies – meaning freight traffic is unlikely to improve from what has been a flat year so far.“
During Q3, airports welcoming more than 25 million passengers per year (Group 1), airports welcoming between 10 and 25 million passengers (Group 2), airports welcoming between 5 and 10 million passengers (Group 3) and airports welcoming less than 5 million passengers per year (Group 4) reported an average adjustment +5.0%, +7.6%, +6.2% and +7.4%.
The airports which reported the highest increases in passenger traffic during Q3 (compared with Q3 2014) are as follows:
- Group 1: Madrid (+12.9%), Istanbul IST (+12.2%), Paris CDG (+8.4%), Paris ORY (+7.6%) and Amsterdam (+6.5%)
- Group 2: Tel Aviv (+25.1%), Istanbul SAW (+24.1%), Ankara (+19.5%), Athens (+18.3%) and Dublin (15.6%)
- Group 13: Gothenburg GOT (24.3%), Porto (+16.1%), Budapest (+15.1%), Glasgow (+13.4%) and Milan LIN (+11.2%)
- Group 4: Florence (+213.1%), Bucharest BBU (+75.5%), Ohrid (+64.9%), Trabzon (+37.3%) and Astrakhan (+32.7%)
During the month of September specifically, airports welcoming more than 25 million passengers per year (Group 1), airports welcoming between 10 and 25 million passengers (Group 2), airports welcoming between 5 and 10 million passengers (Group 3) and airports welcoming less than 5 million passengers per year (Group 4) reported an average adjustment +5.2%, +7.2%, +7.3% and +5.8%.
The airports which reported the highest increases in passenger traffic during September (compared with September 2014) are as follows:
- Group 1: Paris CDG (+21.1%), Paris ORY (+13.0%), Madrid (+11.7%), Istanbul IST (+8.5%) and Copenhagen (+6.1%)
- Group 2: Tel Aviv (+31.2%), Istanbul SAW (22.6%), Ankara (+16.5%), Athens (+14.7%) and Dublin (+14.3%)
- Group 3: Gothenburg GOT (+21.5%), Porto (+19.2%), Kiev (+17.1%), Toulouse (+17.0%) and Milan LIN (+16.4%)
- Group 4: Bucharest BBU (+150.0%), Ohrid (+72.4%), Trabzon (+41.9%), Odessa (+40.8%) and Keflavik (+32.1%)
The ‘ACI Europe Airport Traffic Report – September & Q3 2015’ includes 219 airports in total representing more than 88% of European air passenger traffic.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
