The overall passenger traffic at European airports increased by +5.4% in Q1 2011 compared with Q1 2010. The overall freight traffic among European airports increased +4.7% in Q1 2011 when compared with the corresponding period in 2010. The overall figure for movements at European airports increased +3.9% in Q1 2011 when compared with Q1 2010. Olivier Jankovec , Director General ACI Europe commented “The year started with some very promising traffic growth for European airports, on the back of improving economic conditions, consumer confidence…
The overall passenger traffic at European airports increased by +5.4% in Q1 2011 compared with Q1 2010. The overall freight traffic among European airports increased +4.7% in Q1 2011 when compared with the corresponding period in 2010. The overall figure for movements at European airports increased +3.9% in Q1 2011 when compared with Q1 2010.
Olivier Jankovec, Director General ACI Europe commented “The year started with some very promising traffic growth for European airports, on the back of improving economic conditions, consumer confidence picking up and airlines finally adding more capacity. However, the picture is still very contrasted, depending on national or even regional markets. Growth is definitely not a reality for all of Europe’s airports.”
He added “Political instability and unrest in North Africa and the Middle East continue to affect many airports exposed to these markets, in particular for leisure traffic. And of course, fuel prices are going to be a decisive factor as regards traffic development in the months ahead.”
The breakdown of Q1 traffic was as follows: 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 increase of +5.1%, +4.9%, +5.1% and +6.2% respectively when compared with Q1 2010. The same comparison of Q1 2011 with Q1 2009 demonstrates an average increase of +9.5%, +12.8%, +9.2% and +14.6% respectively.
In terms of the specific traffic data for the month of March, the overall passenger traffic at European airports increased by +3.5% in March 2011 compared with March 2010, while the overall freight traffic increased +2% in the same comparison. The overall figure for movements at European airports increased +2.9% in March 2011 when compared with March 2010.
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 increase of +2.6%, +3.6%, +4.1% and +4.8% respectively when compared with March 2010. The same comparison of March 2011 with March 2009 demonstrates an average increase of +8.8%, +13.3%, +9.8% and +17.7% respectively.
Examples of airports that experienced the highest increase in passenger traffic per group (of 4 groups), when comparing March 2011 with March 2010, include:
- Group 1 airports – Barcelona (+13.4%), Istanbul IST (+9.3%), Amsterdam-Schiphol (+5.5%) and Munich (+3.2%)
- Group 2 airports – Istanbul SAW (+24.4%), Antalya (+20.1%), Moscow SVO (+19.7%) and Brussels (+9.8%)
- Group 3 airports – Kiev (+25.5%), Tenerife TFS (+18.4%), Charleroi (+18.2%), Ankara (+18.1%)
- Group 4 airports – Bourgas (+133.3%), Kaunas (+60.3%), Brindisi (+31.2%) and Tbilisi (+30.1%).
The ‘ACI EUROPE Airport Traffic Report – March & Q1 2011’ includes 169 airports in total. These airports represent about 88% of European passenger traffic.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
