ACI: Pax traffic achieves strong growth in Aug-2013, stronger growth expected towards year-end

ACI reported (07-Oct-2013) passenger numbers increased 4.8% in Aug-2013, compared to previous months over the first and second quarters of 2013. International passenger traffic was a leading driver of this growth, particularly the Middle East (+18.6%) and Asia Pacific (+10.2%) regions, according to the global industry association. This is supported by key airport hubs in these regions such as Dubai and Jakarta, which continue to experience robust gains in passenger traffic on a monthly basis. Meanwhile, air freight remains relatively sluggish, down 0.2% year-on-year. Over the 12 months to Aug-2013, more than 50% of the world's top 20 airports in terms of air freight volume experienced a decline in traffic. However, the first ranked Hong Kong and second ranked Memphis still achieved growth of +2.6 and +3.4 %, respectively. [more - original PR]

ACI: "The above average growth in passenger traffic for the month of August is indicative of the improvement in air transport demand, which is fuelled primarily by international travel. As global economic conditions improve, particularly with respect to the acceleration of GDP growth in Europe and North America, we are likely to see correspondingly stronger growth in passenger traffic towards the end of 2013. The air freight story remains the same. On the whole, North America and Asia-Pacific, which are home to airports that handle a combined 65% of global air freight volumes, have achieved no gains in freight traffic for the twelve month period from September 2012 to August 2013. Nonetheless, as business confidence and international trade realise greater momentum, we are likely to see these regions move into positive territory with regards to annualized year-over-year growth," Rafael Echevarne, Economics Director. Source: Company statement, 07-Oct-2013.