1.5% growth in passenger numbers recorded in August 2012
Strong performance of Leisure traffic drives growth in August
Despite the gloomy news about the European economy, traffic growth at Brussels Airport continues in August: we welcomed 1,930,954 passengers to our airport, representing a 1.5% growth on last year's figures. Year-to-date passenger growth now stands at 2%. Whereas the last few months, growth was particularly driven by transfer traffic, O&D traffic (passengers who have Brussels Airport as their airport of origin or final destination) is catching up. Leisure traffic, low cost and long haul traffic in particular were doing well in August. Predictably, intra-European business traffic did less well during the holiday months of July & August.
The number of aircraft movements continues to decrease, in August even by as much as 4%. The trend seen in the past few months continues: higher average load factors and the use of larger aircraft.
Cargo traffic was stable at -0.3%. Cargo carried on full-freighter flights saw a small decrease, while belly cargo and integrator traffic both recorded positive growth.
Brussels Airlines is to launch two new destinations in November. The carrier will operate six flights a week to Edinburgh during the winter season and plans to increase the frequency on this route next summer. Moreover the airline will add Mombasa to its Africa network. This destination is operated in collaboration with tour operator Thomas Cook. As of February 2013, Qatar Airways is increasing its frequency on the Brussels-Doha route from 5 weekly to daily. Thai Airways International too is adding more flights: on its route from Bangkok, frequency is increased from 3 to 4 weekly flights as of February. In addition, THAI will start operating the larger B777-300ER on this route as of early winter.
Brussels Airport regrets American Airlines’ decision to stop serving the New York JFK route as of this winter, especially since the carrier has been operating a daily service from Brussels for nearly 25 years. However, New York remains the best served intercontinental destination with flights operated by Brussels Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Jet Airways and United.