Once again, Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport improved its financial result and increased the sales of passenger and cargo transport services…
Once again, Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport improved its financial result and increased the sales of passenger and cargo transport services. In 2004, the number of passengers who travelled with air carriers servicing scheduled and charter flights to and from Gdansk increased by 28 per cent in comparison with 2003. The amount of serviced cargo also increased by more than 15 per cent. The intensified air traffic directly translated into improved financial results: in 2004, revenues increased by 10 percent, and the net profit exceeded the plan by seven times.
In 2004, as many as 466.7 thousand passengers arrived at and departed from Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport. An increase in passenger traffic was recorded in the case of all domestic and internationalscheduled flights. Flights on the Gdansk – Frankfurt route have long been in the lead as regards the percentage increase in passenger services. The number of passengers travelling on this route increased by 42 percent in comparison with 2003, and totalled 54.5 thousand passengers. In 2004, animated traffic was also recorded on another international route, namely from Gdansk to Hamburg, serviced by LOT Airlines. More than 14 thousand passengers travelled on this route, which represents an increase of 6 per cent in comparison with 2003. More passengers were also serviced on the domestic route to Warsaw. Last year, 187.7 thousand passengers travelled on this route, which represents an increase of 6 percent in comparison with the preceding year.
A comparable increase was recorded in the case of flights to Copenhagen serviced by SAS Airlines.
Last year, 116.5 thousand passengers travelled on this route. Launched in May 2004 and serviced by the German Lufthansa Airlines, a new route connecting Gdansk and Munich also enjoyed much popularity: 15.3 thousand passengers travelled on this route.
Low-cost carriers also made a significant contribution to the overall air transport services. The lowcost flights to and from London developed very well: since March last year, as many as 46.1 thousand passengers have travelled on this route, including 18.3 thousand serviced by the no longer existing Air Polonia carrier, and 27.8 thousand serviced by Wizz Air. Passenger traffic between Gdansk and London was in no way affected by the well-known bankruptcy of the first Polish low-cost carrier Air Polonia – its clients were immediately taken over by its competitor, namely the Hungarian Wizz Air Airlines. Growing traffic was also recorded on another route serviced by Wizz Air, connecting Gdansk and Dortmund. During only 2 months, as many as 3.8 thousand passengers travelled on this route.
Increased traffic was also observed as regards charter flights. In 2004, 23.7 thousand passengers travelled on non-scheduled flights, which represents an increase of 7 per cent in comparison with the preceding year. As usual, the most popular tourist destinations included Turkey and Egypt.
“The volume of passenger transport serviced by Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport surpassed our expectations,” says Wlodzimierz Machczynski, President of Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport. “The excellent 2004 results can be attributed to a reduction in the prices of tickets for scheduled flights, the opening of borders, the upturn in the economy and the entering of low-cost carriers on the market. We anticipate a further, dynamic growth in passenger traffic this year. Our forecasts are confirmed by the results for January and February this year.”
Passenger traffic between 2000-2004 and the 2005 plan, in thousands of passengers
| Year | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
| Total | 270 | 319 | 318 | 365 | 467 | 587 |
Positive signals for airlines interested in opening new routes to and from Gdansk included not only the growing number of passengers serviced by air carriers, but especially the passenger load factor which has approximated 70 per cent for the last two years.
Passenger load factor on scheduled flights departing from Gdansk between 1999-2004
| Year | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
| Load factor | 51.4% | 58.2% | 63.8% | 67.9% | 67.5% |
In 2004, 3100.5 tonnes of cargo were handled in Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport, which represents an
increase of 15 per cent in comparison with the preceding year. Such a significant increase in cargo traffic can be attributed to the economic growth in the region as well as the continually improved route network for cargo flights. Airport analysts forecast that this year, the amount of handled cargo will reach 3410.5 tonnes.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
