19-May-2010 11:17 AM

Gloomy April traffic reports from European airports. Aeroports de Paris’ shares gain

Analysis

Aeroports de Paris' shares gained 0.9% yesterday as the Paris CAC-40 Index rose 2.1%. The airport operator reported a 19.1% year-on-year decline in passenger numbers to 5.9 million last month across its network, due to the airspace closures.

Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) handled 4.1 million passengers, down 20.0%, while Paris-Orly handled 1.9 million, down 17%, as aircraft movements slumped 21.2% and 15.8%, respectively. It was a major setback for CDG, where traffic had only edged back into positive territory in Jan-2010.

Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport passenger numbers and passenger number growth: Apr-2009 to Apr-2010

Traffic down heavily from Manchester to Munich

In the UK, unlisted Manchester Airport reported a 26.2% year-on-year reduction in Apr-2010 passenger numbers to just 1.1 million as aircraft movements slumped 26.9% to 10,391 as a result of the airspace closures. Cargo volumes fell 5.7% to 7,809 tonnes.

In Germany, Munich Airport's Apr-2010 passenger numbers fell 14% to 2.3 million as aircraft movements dropped 17.9% to 27,585 and cargo volumes surged 18.4% off last year's weak base to 21,919 tonnes.

Elsewhere, Fraport's shares fell 0.6% yesterday despite a 1.5% gain on the German DAX.

Selected airports daily share price movements (% change): 18-May-2010

Gloomy April traffic reports from European airports. Aeroports de Paris’ shares gain

Traffic down heavily from Manchester to Munich

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