March 2001 results from almost 700 airports worldwide show passenger traffic up 2 percent, and cargo and aircraft movements down 4 and 1 percent…
March 2001 results from almost 700 airports worldwide show passenger traffic up 2 percent, and cargo and aircraft movements down 4 and 1 percent, respectively, compared with March 2000, according to the Airport Council International (
In March 2001, passenger traffic rose in Asia/Pacific and Latin America/Caribbean (+6 percent each), Africa (+5 percent) and Europe (+3 percent). It was unchanged in North America and fell in the Middle East (-2 percent). Over a third of the top 30 airports saw their traffic shrink. Hardest hit were San Francisco (-8 percent), Chicago O`Hare (-6 percent) and Newark (-5 percent). However, increases were registered in Hong Kong (+12 percent), Las Vegas (+8 percent), Bangkok and Toronto (+7 percent each).
Cargo volume handled was slightly up in Europe (+1 percent), but remained unchanged in the Middle East and Latin America/Caribbean. It contracted in Asia/Pacific (-2 percent), North America (-9 percent) and Africa (-10 percent). Cargo throughput has consistently showed its sensitivity to the prevailing economic environment. Almost two thirds of the top 30 airports saw their traffic fall, notably the top four cargo airports, Memphis (-5 percent), Los Angeles (-9 percent), Hong Kong (-3 percent) and Tokyo (-7 percent). Bucking this negative trend are Beijing (+12 percent), Miami (+9 percent) and Frankfurt (+7 percent).
Aircraft movements grew in Asia/Pacific (+7 percent) and Africa (+1 percent). They were unchanged the Middle East and declined in Latin America/Caribbean (-3 percent), North America (-2 percent) and Europe (-1 percent).
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
