INTERNATIONAL. Infratil Airports reported a -26.0% dip in passenger traffic year-on-year at Glasgow Prestwick Airport in July. At Wellington Airport in New Zealand, also owned by Infratil, international traffic declined by -6.5%. Lübeck Airport in Germany however announced a record +43% increase in traffic during the month.
Glasgow Prestwick
Glasgow Prestwick Airport handled 191,940 passengers in July, 28,000 more than June, but 66,000 less than the year before (-26.0% down).
Load factors across the majority of routes held up versus the prior year, with the decrease in scheduled passengers being driven primarily by capacity reductions by Ryanair, mainly on domestic and Irish routes. Ryanair has also announced the launch of six new sunshine routes with Alicante, Palma, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Ibiza for Summer 2010.
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Glasgow Prestwick Airport July 2009 passenger traffic figures |
Wellington Airport
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Work is well under way on Wellington’s new international departure terminal, “˜The Rock’ (Photo taken on 19 August) |
At Wellington Airport international passengers were down -6.5% against July 2008, reflecting a -6% decline in capacity. In particular Sydney-bound traffic experienced a drop of -11.6% in seat capacity and -8.6% in passengers relative to July 2008. The anticipated commencement of Pacific Blue services to Sydney in September 2009, however, will add competition on this route and may generate passenger growth.
Despite Qantas stopping its Brisbane services, there was an increase in overall passenger numbers on the Brisbane and Melbourne routes.
Figures in July showed that 388,595 domestic passengers used Wellington Airport, a decline of -3.3% compared to July 2008. However there were -1% fewer seats available than a year earlier.
Jetstar’s commencement of services from Wellington to Auckland and Christchurch is stimulating traffic on the trunk route, Infratil reported.
Pacific Blue’s marketing campaign targeting New Zealand expats in East Coast Australia contributed to a +24% increase in Visiting Family and Friends (VFR) travellers in June 2009 compared to June 2008.
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Wellington Airport July 2009 passenger traffic figures |
Lübeck Airport
Scheduled traffic for July was a record for Lübeck Airport at 79,515 passengers compared to 55,499 for July 2008 (+43.0% up). The new summer routes to Palma de Mallorca, Alghero and Alicante delivered strong load factors, attracting travellers from the Hamburg area and also from Denmark. The high percentage of outbound passengers also created a record month for car park patronage.
In the six months to the end of June 2009 Lübeck traffic rose by +24.9%, making it one of only three of the top 20 German airports to experience growth. Hamburg Airport traffic declined by -8.2% in the same period.
MORE STORIES ON INFRATIL AIRPORTS
Prestwick switches to new online parking service – 02/04/08
Wellington Airport unveils stunning new design for international passenger terminal – 19/02/08
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