ACI: Global passenger traffic growth moderates in May-2016, Africa and Latin America struggling

Airports Council International (ACI) reported (18-Jul-2016) global airport passenger traffic growth slowed in May-2016, while growth in air freight volumes remained in a "lackluster state". Highlights for May-2016 traffic include:

• Global: Passenger traffic was slightly below the past 12 month growth trend of 6%, with international passenger traffic up 4.1% year-on-year and domestic traffic up 5.2%. Total passenger traffic growth for the first five months of 2016 was 5.9%;
• Middle East: Continued to lead passenger traffic growth, driven by strong international traffic. Doha Hamad International Airport, the region's second busiest airport after Dubai, saw traffic leap by over 23%;
• Asia Pacific: Second strongest passenger traffic growth by region. The Asia Pacific benefited from the buoyant traffic gains in India. With strong economic fundamentals, the sub-continent "continued to be one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world". Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport grew 21%;
• Europe: Airports experienced more moderate gains in passenger traffic. The slight weakening of traffic growth levels in the near term came after the Apr-2016 terrorist attacks at Brussels Airport, which had a spillover effect across European hubs;
• North America: Traffic growth "outperformed its mature market expectations ", with domestic and international growth at similar levels. Many of the region's airports and airlines have the capacity to accommodate the continued growth in demand;
• Latin America/Caribbean: Region continues to suffer from "economic malaise". Airport passenger rose just 0.2%, with growth in international passenger traffic was barely able to offset a 1% decline in domestic passenger traffic. The region's largest economy, Brazil, continued to face recessionary conditions;
• Africa: 4.8% decline in total passenger traffic, resulting mainly from the decline of 9.8% in international passenger traffic, particularly of key tourist destinations where aviation security remained a concern. [more - original PR]