Dublin Airport Sees 17.5% Q1 Passenger Growth
Passenger traffic at Europe’s airports in the first quarter of 2016 grew by an average 7.8% according to ACI Europe with Dublin Airport ranked second for a Group 1 airport with growth of 17.5% for the period.
Traffic in the EU during the first quarter of the year grew by 8.2% - more than 4.5 times the bloc’s forecasted rate of GDP growth for 2016.
Sixteen countries reported double-digit growth. Dublin (17.5%), Barcelona-El Prat (16.1%), Copenhagen (13.2%), Amsterdam-Schiphol (12.4%) and Madrid-Barajas (11.9%) led passenger growth amongst the EU’s largest airports.
ACI said the core markets of France, Germany, Italy and to a lesser extent, the UK, performed below the EU average.
“These figures, as well as passenger traffic results for March (+7.6% for the EU) reveal that the impact of the Brussels terrorist attacks appears to be contained to Belgium, with Brussels airport bearing the brunt of it (-29.1% in March & -5.3% in Q1). This mostly local/national impact is consistent with we have seen in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks of last November,” said ACI.
“Europe’s airports have delivered an excellent performance in terms of passenger traffic over the first quarter of 2016. While the additional day in February and Easter happening in March helped, the magnitude of the traffic increase at many airports has defied economic gravity. To some extent, it has also flown in the face of an increasingly adverse geopolitical and security environment. As long as these risks remain in check and with oil set to remain affordable, we remain positive about the traffic outlook for the rest of the year. The fact that airports are now keenly focused on improving their competitive positions and are fighting to attract new traffic also plays an important – and often overlooked – role in maintaining the growth momentum,” added Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI Europe.
Meanwhile, non-EU airports in Q1 posted less dynamic - although improving - passenger traffic growth of 6.2%. Traffic is rebounding in Ukraine (14.4%) and appears to be stabilising in Russia. It has reached new peaks in Iceland (36.8%) while it remains fairly resilient in Turkey (8.4%) – although Turkish airports serving tourist destinations are underperforming.
Freight traffic across the European airport network increased moderately by 2.1% in Q1, with all of that growth going to EU airports. Aircraft movements were up 4% reflecting airlines adding more capacity to the market.