UK and Ireland plunge down the list of Europe's biggest domestic markets; Russia and Turkey advance
Turkey and Russia are rising up the rankings of Europe's biggest domestic air travel markets this summer, thanks to strong increases in planned airline capacity. Reflecting capacity cutbacks and a weak economic environment, the UK has tumbled two places to now rank as Europe's sixth largest domestic air market, behind Spain (1), Italy (2), Germany (3) and now France (4) and Russia (5).
Other big movers include Norway (sliding two places to eighth), Romania (down four to 18th) and Ireland, which has fallen two places to 20th, reflecting a halving of domestic capacity. Switzerland has gained two places to 17th.
Despite a double-digit fall in capacity next month, the troubled Greek aviation market has nevertheless held its position as the tenth largest European domestic market.
See related reports:
- Russia, Turkey and Sweden the hottest destinations for European travellers this Summer. Egypt down
- Slovenia, Colombia and Eastern Europe among the hottest emerging markets for European travellers
Europe's domestic markets (Growth in seats per week): Apr-2010 vs Apr-2011
| Domestic market
|
Apr-2010 | Apr-2011 | % Change | Rank
Apr-2010 |
Rank
Apr-2011 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 1,051,498 | 1,075,570 | 2.3% | 1 | 1 | - |
| Italy | 914,937 | 867,379 | -5.2% | 2 | 2 | - |
| Germany | 786,212 | 757,699 | -3.6% | 3 | 3 | - |
| France | 632,029 | 621,058 | -1.7% | 5 | 4 | +1 |
| Russian Federation | 486,274 | 610,628 | 25.6% | 7 | 5 | +2 |
| United Kingdom | 673,516 | 598,876 | -11.1% | 4 | 6 | -2 |
| Turkey | 381,090 | 545,704 | 43.2% | 8 | 7 | +1 |
| Norway | 507,124 | 517,147 | 2.0% | 6 | 8 | -2 |
| Sweden | 216,881 | 217,080 | 0.1% | 9 | 9 | - |
| Greece | 210,109 | 181,346 | -13.7% | 10 | 10 | - |
| Finland | 108,041 | 129,584 | 19.9% | 11 | 11 | - |
| Portugal | 98,356 | 94,875 | -3.5% | 12 | 12 | - |
| Denmark | 72,794 | 72,230 | -0.8% | 13 | 13 | - |
| Ukraine | 34,136 | 32,821 | -3.9% | 15 | 14 | +1 |
| Poland | 30,110 | 30,820 | 2.4% | 16 | 15 | +1 |
| Austria | 26,907 | 25,402 | -5.6% | 17 | 16 | +1 |
| Switzerland | 23,305 | 24,816 | 6.5% | 19 | 17 | +2 |
| Romania | 44,704 | 21,308 | -52.3% | 14 | 18 | -4 |
| Croatia | 15,608 | 16,109 | 3.2% | 20 | 19 | +1 |
| Ireland | 25,230 | 12,332 | -51.1% | 18 | 20 | -2 |
| Iceland | 10,822 | 8,576 | -20.8% | 21 | 21 | - |
| Bulgaria | 5,419 | 6,090 | 12.4% | 22 | 22 | - |
| Czech Republic | 3,648 | 2,664 | -27.0% | 23 | 23 | - |
| Estonia | 1,000 | 1,408 | 40.8% | 25 | 24 | +1 |
| Slovakia | - | 1,360 | n/a | 27 | 25 | +2 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | - | 402 | n/a | 28 | 26 | +2 |
| Belgium | 328 | 328 | 0.0% | 26 | 27 | -1 |
| Cyprus | 2,372 | - | n/a | 24 | 28 | -4 |
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 leading Spanish airport Madrid Barajas - and browse to the Schedule Analysis tab.