ACI Europe: 1Q2016 airport traffic growth up 7.8%
ACI Europe reported (11-May-2016) passenger traffic at European airports increased 7.8% year-on-year in 1Q2016. Accordingly, Dublin (+17.5%), Barcelona-El Prat (+16.1%), Copenhagen (+13.2%), Amsterdam-Schiphol (+12.4%) and Madrid-Barajas (+11.9%) led passenger growth amongst the EU's largest airports. [more - original PR]
ACI Europe: "Europe's airports have delivered an excellent performance in terms of passenger traffic over the first quarter of 2016. While the additional day in February and Easter happening in March helped, the magnitude of the traffic increase at many airports has defied economic gravity. To some extent, it has also flown in the face of an increasingly adverse geopolitical and security environment. As long as these risks remain in check and with oil set to remain affordable, we remain positive about the traffic outlook for the rest of the year. The fact that airports are now keenly focused on improving their competitive positions and are fighting to attract new traffic also plays an important - and often overlooked - role in maintaining the growth momentum. All this means that passenger traffic should continue to outperform GDP. While passenger growth rates might soften on the back of already robust figures in 2015, security concerns also mean that part of the leisure demand to external markets will continue to shift towards EU leisure destinations and their airports." Olivier Jankovec, Director General. Source: Company statement, 11-May-2016.