ACI reports pax traffic up 'moderately' in Feb-2011, Africa plummets, cargo flat

Airports Council International reports global passenger traffic at airports up 3.9% - traffic highlights in Feb-2011:

• Passenger numbers: 259.5 million, +3.9%;
  • • Domestic: 141.6 million, +3.4%;
    • International: 115.4 million, +4.5%
  • Africa: 6.1 million, -21.1%;
  • Asia Pacific: 76.7 million, +5.2%;
  • Europe: 74.9 million, +5.6%;
  • Latin American and the Caribbean: 21.0 million, +5.8%;
  • Middle East and Africa: 7.2 million, +5.4%;
  • North America: 73.6 million, +2.8%;
  • Air cargo: 4.7 million tonnes, stable;
    • Domestic: 1.5 million, -3.3%
    • International: 3.1 million, +1.6%;
  • Africa: 45,100, +8.1%;
  • Asia Pacific: 1.6 million, -3.4%;
  • Europe: 975,700, +4.7%;
  • Latin American and the Caribbean: 201,700, +7.1%;
  • Middle East and Africa: 258,500, -9.3%;
  • North America: 1.5 million, +1.6%.

ACI: "The impact of the social and political crisis in North Africa on overall global traffic is limited, yet for the individual airports that were accustomed to rapid growth, it represents a very severe situation as both aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenues plunge. While the situation in North Africa remains fragile with the focus shifting to Libya, the effects of the natural and nuclear disaster in Japan that occurred in March will have a far bigger impact on March results both in the Asia-Pacific region as well as depressing global passenger numbers." Andreas Schimm, Director Economics. Source: ACI, 31-Mar-2011.

ACI: "It would be misleading to interpret these [air cargo] figures as a precursor to a cooling world economy. Growth rates were exceptionally high during the first half of the 2010 reference period, and the situation is already positive if the volumes reached then can be upheld." Andreas Schimm, Director Economics. Source: ACI, 31-Mar-2011.