GERMANY. With a +15.6% jump in passenger volumes, Munich Airport has far exceeded all traffic forecasts in the third quarter to post a new record.
For the three months to 30 September, Munich Airport counted a total of 7.7 million passengers – an increase of more than one million compared with the same period last year.
During the quarter, the number of commercial take-offs and landings rose +12% to nearly 100, 000, breaking all records for a single quarter.
Following what it described as a “massive traffic boom in the third quarter”, the airport authority said it is on course for a double-digit passenger traffic increase for the whole year.
On the basis of the 20.3 million passengers already counted during the first nine months of the current year, Munich Airport is now +11.3% ahead of the prior year figure.
The third quarter also saw new single-day records at Munich Airport. On Friday, 24 September over 104,000 passengers passed through the handling facilities. The daily average of 90,000 passengers in the
month of September marked another all-time high.
Commercial revenues are understood to have benefited considerably in overall terms although most observers say the German travel retail market has been difficult this year in spend per passenger terms.
Eurotrade (Flughafen Munich) runs the duty free operations, while a wide range of specialist retailers are in place.
Non-aeronautical revenues have become a major priority for Flughafen Munich.
The opening of the new terminal two in June 2003 was seen as a landmark in the airport’s commercial as well as aviation development.
This year the airport authority has focused on streamlining T2 and optimising T1, including a number of renovation projects in Area C and Area D. Areas A and B will follow in 2005.
With 15.5 million international passengers in 2003, Munich Airport ranked 17th in the ACI league of airports ranked by international passenger numbers.
MORE STORIES ON MUNICH AIRPORT,
Munich air traffic rises +65% in June – 13/07/2004
Munich Airport sees growth from the East – 29/04/04