Asia Pacific airports pax up 7%, Middle East up 12% in 2012

ACI Asia Pacific reported (18-Feb-2013) the region's airports finished the year with a strong 7.1% year-on-year increase in passenger numbers while the Middle East reported a remarkable passenger traffic growth of 12.1% in 2012. Beijing Capital was the busiest airport in the region with more than 81 million passengers, followed by Tokyo Haneda with 67 million passenger and Jakarta, Dubai and Hong Kong rounding up the top five spots. Many airports in the region recorded double-digit growth, according to the industry association, due to economic growth in their own countries and the rising propensity to travel in the region. These airports include Jakarta (+14.4%), Dubai (+13.2%), Bangkok (+10.6%), Singapore (+10.0%) and Seoul Incheon (+11.3%). Air freight traffic, however, remained stagnant in 2012. A slight increase of 0.5% was recorded in the Asia-Pacific region while the Middle Eastern airports showed a 4.2% increase compared to 2011. [more - original PR]

ACI Asia Pacific: "The positive results of 2012 confirmed the 2012 to 2031 Forecast recently published by ACI that the Asia-Pacific region will grow at a steady 6 to 7% increase in passenger traffic until 2031. The report also forecasted global passenger traffic to grow at 4.1% per annum over the next 20 years and Asia Pacific will become the largest aviation market in the world," Patti Chau, regional director. Source: Company statement, 18-Feb-2013.