AEA releases Dec-2009 traffic results - full year pax down 5.8%

Association of European Airlines (AEA) reports (05-Feb-2010) the following traffic highlights for its member airlines:

• Dec-2009:
  • Passenger numbers: 24.1 million, +1.3% year-on-year;
    • Europe: 17.7 million, +1.6%;
    • North Africa: 384,600, +2.4%;
    • Middle East: 752,400, +6.5%;
    • North Atlantic: 2.0 million, -2.8%;
    • Mid Atlantic: 544,900, -3.9%;
    • South Atlantic: 509,400, +2.6%;
    • Sub Saharan Africa: 778,500, +3.2%;
    • Asia Pacific: 1.5 million, +0.2%;
• 12 months ended 31-Dec-2009:
  • Passenger numbers: 326.0 million, -5.8%;
    • Europe: 246.0 million, -6.7%;
    • North Africa: 4.8 million, +2.9%;
    • Middle East: 9.3 million, +7.6%;
    • North Atlantic: 27.3 million, -5.7%;
    • Mid Atlantic: 6.4 million, -6.7%;
    • South Atlantic: 5.5 million, -5.5%;
    • Sub Saharan Africa: 8.6 million, +2.4%;
    • Asia Pacific: 17.9 million, -6.0%. [more]

Association of European Airlines: "The stark reality of the figures tells us what we know already - our sector has just come through an astonishing year. The crisis has not receded - its repercussions will be felt well into the future, and in some respects the face of the industry will be changed fundamentally. We have seen, quite clearly, that the industry's suppliers and service providers have been able to insulate themselves from the worst of the downturn by their ability to recover costs, or sustain profits, through their pricing policies. This lesson must taken on board by our regulators. We have seen, quite clearly, that airlines and their passengers cannot sustainably be treated as a cash cow by national treasuries, to be taxed and taxed again. This lesson, too, must be taken on board by our regulators," Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus, Secretary General. Source: AEA, 05-Feb-2010.