ASIA PACIFIC. Passenger traffic in the Asia Pacific region grew +5.7% to 1.43 billion last year, according to the Airports Council International (ACI) Preliminary World Airport Traffic for 2011. The Middle East posted growth of +8.4% compared to 2010.
Several airports in the region have achieved strong double-digit growth in 2011 due to robust economic growth in those countries and the rising propensity to travel in the region, ACI said. They include New Delhi (DEL), up by +21%; Jakarta (CGK) +19%; Bangkok (BKK) +12%; and also Guangzhou (CAN), Singapore (SIN) and Kuala Lumpur (KUL), all up by about +10%.
Beijing (PEK), which handled over 77 million passengers in 2011, is the busiest airport in the region and takes second place in the world’s ranking (just behind Atlanta). The other four airports in the region with the most passenger traffic are Tokyo Haneda (HND), Hong Kong (HKG), Jakarta (CGK), and Dubai (DXB).
Commenting on the 2011 traffic results, ACI Asia-Pacific Regional Director Patti Chau said: “Despite all the difficult times we had in 2011, it is rewarding to see that the region has recovered and recorded a healthy and positive growth in passenger traffic comparing to 2010. It proves the resilience of our economy and the strong fundamentals of our region.”
[houseAd2]
