Russia, Turkey and Sweden the hottest destinations for European travellers this Summer. Egypt down
Russia, Turkey and Sweden are among the fastest growing major destinations for European travellers this summer, latest analysis from CAPA shows. According to Innovata schedule data for Apr-2011 - the first month of the summer scheduling season - Russia and Turkey will enjoy near 20% increases in passenger capacity from other European countries next month.
Estonia, Albania and Ukraine are the fastest growing destinations for European-origin flights, but these are relatively small markets.
China is the fourth fastest growing destination for European-origin flights, with a 23.2% year-on-year increase in capacity next month, followed by Saudi Arabia and Lebanon in the Middle East. Sweden is also a surprisingly strong destination for travel from other European countries next month, with a 16.6% increase in capacity planned by airlines.
In total, 23 countries will enjoy double-digit increases in capacity from European countries next month.
Hottest destinations for European travellers (Growth in seats per week): Apr-2010 vs Apr-2011
Destination | Region | Apr-2010 | Apr-2011 | % Change |
---|---|---|---|---|
Estonia | Europe | 18,832 | 24,826 | 31.8% |
Albania | Europe | 20,285 | 25,860 | 27.5% |
Ukraine | Europe | 68,968 | 85,080 | 23.4% |
China | Asia Pacific | 84,218 | 103,768 | 23.2% |
Saudi Arabia | Middle East | 27,654 | 33,695 | 21.8% |
Lebanon | Middle East | 23,312 | 28,363 | 21.7% |
Russia | Europe | 187,682 | 224,901 | 19.8% |
Turkey | Europe | 274,340 | 327,962 | 19.5% |
Armenia | Europe | 18,423 | 21,758 | 18.1% |
Kazakhstan | Europe | 19,616 | 23,160 | 18.1% |
Sweden | Europe | 238,535 | 278,103 | 16.6% |
Qatar | Middle East | 47,559 | 55,336 | 16.4% |
Jordan | Middle East | 19,312 | 22,218 | 15.0% |
Serbia | Europe | 47,925 | 55,023 | 14.8% |
Israel | Middle East | 95,722 | 109,726 | 14.6% |
Finland | Europe | 137,461 | 157,253 | 14.4% |
Latvia | Europe | 58,841 | 67,185 | 14.2% |
Hong Kong | Asia Pacific | 47,611 | 53,848 | 13.1% |
Thailand | Asia Pacific | 68,680 | 77,385 | 12.7% |
Brazil | Latin America | 61,819 | 69,616 | 12.6% |
South Korea | Asia Pacific | 30,398 | 34,014 | 11.9% |
Uzbekistan | Europe | 23,300 | 26,014 | 11.6% |
Bulgaria | Europe | 43,430 | 48,122 | 10.8% |
Important Notes:
- The April data presented here is not be affected by either the timing of Easter or the ash cloud in Apr-2010. The weekly data is based on a representative week that avoids major holidays. The weeks in question are 12-18-Apr-2010 and 11-17-Apr-2011. The Ash cloud was generally treated by the airlines on an ad hoc basis and schedule changes did not filter through to the data presented here;
- Note: CAPA offers a wide range of tools for route planners, including detailed schedule analysis for over 3,000 airports worldwide. Click here for an example of the data on Estonia's gateway, Tallinn Airport - and browse to the Schedule Analysis tab.)
Russia and Turkey seeing broad-based gains
Growth in capacity to Russia is being stimulated by spectacular increases from Latvia, Belarus and Ukraine, while Germany (Russia's biggest European source market by seating capacity) is also growing strongly (+14.8% year-on-year). Capacity from Turkey, Austria, France and Italy is also up by double-digits on the same month last year.
Turkey's rise is being driven by big increases in capacity from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Sweden and Austria, while capacity from Germany (also Turkey's biggest market) is surging by 33%. Other big markets, including the UK (+9.7%), Russia (+22.6%), Switzerland (+17%) and Italy (+29.8%) are also growing strongly, though Cyprus is weaker (-13.1%).
These gains can be partly explained by the diversion of capacity away from other traditional destinations for European travellers, namely Egypt and Tunisia.
Egypt and Tunisia struggle
Civil unrest in Egypt and Tunisia in recent months has had a dramatic impact on airline capacity decisions from European countries - traditionally strong source markets for the tourism-dependent Egyptian and Tunisian economies. Capacity to Egypt and Tunisia from Europe will fall 16.1% and 7.1%, respectively, dropping both countries down the rankings. Capacity to Cyprus, Poland and Romania from other European countries is also weak next month.
Weakest destinations for European travellers (Growth in seats per week): Apr-2010 vs Apr-2011
Destination | Region | Apr-2010 | Apr-2011 | % Change | Rank
Apr-2010 |
Rank
Apr-2011 |
Change |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Egypt | Africa | 109,414 | 91,787 | -16.1% | 25 | 30 | -5 |
Tunisia | Europe | 67,997 | 63,164 | -7.1% | 34 | 37 | -3 |
Dominican Republic | Latin America | 25,764 | 24,339 | -5.5% | 52 | 56 | -4 |
Cyprus | Europe | 98,502 | 96,249 | -2.3% | 27 | 28 | -1 |
Poland | Europe | 214,118 | 209,439 | -2.2% | 17 | 18 | -1 |
Romania | Europe | 122,683 | 120,149 | -2.1% | 24 | 24 | - |
Croatia | Europe | 45,533 | 44,682 | -1.9% | 43 | 44 | -1 |
Algeria | Africa | 60,758 | 59,829 | -1.5% | 37 | 38 | -1 |
Iran | Middle East | 22,706 | 22,715 | 0.0% | 56 | 60 | -4 |
Nigeria | Africa | 22,801 | 23,009 | 0.9% | 55 | 58 | -3 |
Lithuania | Europe | 28,556 | 29,053 | 1.7% | 48 | 49 | -1 |
Austria | Europe | 279,155 | 285,563 | 2.3% | 9 | 10 | -1 |
France | Europe | 767,045 | 789,289 | 2.9% | 5 | 5 | - |
Italy | Europe | 892,594 | 918,643 | 2.9% | 4 | 4 | - |
Czech Republic | Europe | 139,671 | 144,122 | 3.2% | 22 | 23 | -1 |
Slow growth to France, Italy - Canary Islands arrivals soar
Italy and France will experience slow growth, but maintain their rankings as the fourth and fifth biggest destinations for European-origin flights. The UK tops this ranking, followed by Germany and Spain. Of Europe's 'Big Three', Spain is the best performer, with an expected 9.8% increase in capacity from other European countries next month.
Much of the growth is being driven by resort areas in Spain, which have seen significant gains as rival resorts in Egypt and Tunisia struggle to attract visitors. Official data shows visitor arrivals at Spain's Canary Islands soared 18.5% year-on-year in Feb-2011 to just over 900,000, bringing the two-month total to 1.8 million, up 13.5%. Total visitors to Spain rose 4.5% in the first two months of 2011, to 5.5 million.
Biggest destinations for European travellers (seats per week): Apr-2010 vs Apr-2011
Destination | Region | Apr-2010 | Apr-2011 | % Change | Rank
Apr-2010 |
Rank
Apr-2011 |
Change |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | Europe | 1,497,918 | 1,568,551 | 4.7% | 1 | 1 | - |
Germany | Europe | 1,428,598 | 1,485,779 | 4.0% | 2 | 2 | - |
Spain | Europe | 1,163,171 | 1,276,871 | 9.8% | 3 | 3 | - |
Italy | Europe | 892,594 | 918,643 | 2.9% | 4 | 4 | - |
France | Europe | 767,045 | 789,289 | 2.9% | 5 | 5 | - |
United States | North America | 729,934 | 780,069 | 6.9% | 6 | 6 | - |
Switzerland | Europe | 421,642 | 455,138 | 7.9% | 7 | 7 | - |
Netherlands | Europe | 413,156 | 453,392 | 9.7% | 8 | 8 | - |
Turkey | Europe | 274,340 | 327,962 | 19.5% | 10 | 9 | +1 |
Austria | Europe | 279,155 | 285,563 | 2.3% | 9 | 10 | -1 |
Sweden | Europe | 238,535 | 278,103 | 16.6% | 15 | 11 | +4 |
Ireland | Europe | 265,735 | 275,039 | 3.5% | 11 | 12 | -1 |
Denmark | Europe | 262,996 | 274,936 | 4.5% | 12 | 13 | -1 |
Portugal | Europe | 240,136 | 259,928 | 8.2% | 14 | 14 | - |
Belgium | Europe | 241,080 | 254,824 | 5.7% | 13 | 15 | -2 |
Norway | Europe | 220,464 | 237,634 | 7.8% | 16 | 16 | - |
Russia | Europe | 187,682 | 224,901 | 19.8% | 18 | 17 | +1 |
Poland | Europe | 214,118 | 209,439 | -2.2% | 17 | 18 | -1 |
UAE | Middle East | 160,584 | 175,448 | 9.3% | 19 | 19 | - |
Greece | Europe | 155,070 | 164,691 | 6.2% | 20 | 20 | - |
Turkey outshines Greece
Turkey's rise has seen it take ninth spot from Austria, while slower growth in Ireland and Denmark have seen them slip down the rankings, leapfrogged by Sweden. Belgium and Poland have also fallen, while Russia gained a place to 17th largest. Greece, which is hoping for a tourism revival to help solve its economic woes, is showing a 6.2% increase in capacity next month - just one percentage point above the regional average, and not enough to move it up the rankings.
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