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Fraport up as traffic continue to fall, BAA parent down despite record August traffic at Heathrow

Analysis

Shares in Ferrovial, parent company of UK's BAA, eased 0.8% in trading yesterday following the release of BAA's Aug-2009 traffic, which saw the total traffic decline widen to 3.1%.

Total passenger numbers at the airport operator's portfolio of airports fell 3.1% year-on-year to 14.4 million in Aug-2009, a slight deterioration from the 2.4% decline registered in Jul-2009. However, London Heathrow reported its busiest August ever, handling 6.4 million passengers for the month, representing its second consecutive monthly increase of 0.3%. Passenger traffic continued to decline at London Gatwick and London Stansted, down 4.6% and 7.8%, respectively.

Cargo volumes which the first single-digit decline, at -7.5%, since Nov-2008.

Frankfurt traffic continue to be hurt by downturn

Meanwhile, Fraport's shares gained 3.5% yesterday after reporting easing declines in Aug-2009 traffic. Total passenger numbers at the group's airports fell 2.3%, an improvement from the 3.5% decline the previous month, with Frankfurt Airport registering a slight fall at 0.4%. Cargo traffic fell 5.1% in Aug-2009, following a 9.6% decline in Jul-2009.

See related article: Fraport revises up full year passenger forecast, BAA warns industry conditions remain difficult

Copenhagen and Vienna airports' traffic deteriorate in Aug-2009

Elsewhere in Europe, Copenhagen Airport's shares gained 0.5%, following the release of its Aug-2009 traffic results:

  • Passenger numbers: 1.9 million, -7.6% year-on-year;
    • Domestic: 176,474, +0.1%;
    • International: 1.7 million, -8.3%;
  • Aircraft movements: 20,301, -13.5%.

Meanwhile, competitor, Vienna Airport's shares eased 0.6% as the airport reported mixed results in Aug-2009. Both passenger numbers and aircraft movements deteriorated in Aug-2009, while cargo volumes showed signs of improvement, down 4.0% in Aug-2009 compared to the 8.6% fall in Jul-2009. Vienna International Airport traffic highlights in Aug-2009:

  • Passenger numbers: 1.8 million, -6.8% year-on-year;
  • Cargo volume: 20,404 tonnes, -4.0%;
  • Aircraft movements: 21,102, -9.8%.

In the Asia Pacific region, Macquarie Airports, Xiamen and Auckland airports' shares led the decline, closing down 3.2%, 2.7% and 1.6%, respectively.

Selected airports daily share price movements (% change): 10-Sep-2009

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