ACI World reports pax traffic up just 2.3% in Oct-2011, cargo falls 3.9%

ACI World reports global airport traffic rose 2.3% in Oct-2011:

• Passenger numbers: 316.6 million, +2.3%;
  • • Domestic: 161.6 million, +1.5%;
    • International: 146.1 million, +3.3%;
  • Africa: 8.9 million, -10.4%;
  • Asia Pacific: 81.4 million, +4.4%;
  • Europe: 107.3 million, +3%;
  • Latin America and the Caribbean: 21 million, +5.9%;
  • Middle East: 8.9 million, +6.1%;
  • North America: 89 million, -0.1%;
• Global freight: 5.2 million tonnes, -3.9%;
  • • Domestic: 1.6 million, -4.0%;
    • International: 3.6 million, -3.8%;
  • Africa: 48,800, +4.8%;
  • Asia Pacific: 1.9 million, -4.8%;
  • Europe: 1.1 million, -4.4%;
  • Latin America and the Caribbean: 225,700, 3.1%;
  • Middle East: 304,600, 2.3%;
  • North America: 1.6 million, -4.7%. [more]

ACI World: "Air freight has seen its sixth consecutive month of year over year decline. International and domestic traffic in air freight have declined by 4 percent. Global exporters in Asia experienced sharp declines in total freight with Hong Kong (HKG), Shanghai (PVG) and Incheon (ICN) contracting by -8.2, -9.8 and -8 percent respectively." Company statement, 02-Dec-2011.

ACI World: "Year to date growth for overall passenger traffic has shown resilience at +4.6 percent with international traffic up by over 6 percent. Notwithstanding, the looming risks in major currency markets and economies have not yet affected consumption patterns for air travel. However, traffic in air freight, as a leading indicator, is much more sensitive to pending risks in the business cycle. International trade in air freight has been placed on the back burner until business confidence is revived, particularly with respect to the economies of Europe, Asia and North America. With the remaining fears of a possible Euro break-up, we are likely to
observe year over year declines in freight traffic over the months to come," Rafael Echevarne, economics director. Source: Company statement, 02-Dec-2011.