AUSTRALIA/EUROPE. Sydney Airport international passenger traffic surged by +7.8% in October compared to October 2005. Total passenger traffic rose by +7.7%.
Among the 860,000 international travellers in the month, Australian travellers increased +9%, UK +2%, US +4%, Japan +6%, South Korea +12%, China +36%, India +5%, Canada +11%, Germany +4% and France +2%. New Zealand (-3%) was the only major market that declined.
At Copenhagen Airport international traffic grew +6.2% in the month following the introduction of services to Newark and Atlanta in the US.
At Brussels Airport intra-EU traffic rose +5.2%, but extra-EU traffic was down -1.1% due to a drop in charter traffic to Turkey.
At Aeroporti di Roma, comprising Fiumicino and Ciampino airports, intra-EU traffic was up +8.2%, while extra-EU traffic rose by +7.6% thanks to increased transatlantic activity at Fiumicino.
At Birmingham international and charter traffic were down -9.1% and 8.3% respectively, due to a reduction in capacity compared to last year.
At Bristol international traffic surged by +16.8% in the month.
Macquarie Airports CEO Kerrie Mather said: “October traffic has been solid across most of the portfolio, with Sydney and Rome having very strong months.
“International traffic at Sydney increased +7.8% on pcp (previous corresponding period) and domestic traffic is estimated to have increased +8.8% on pcp. Traffic has benefited from fare promotions by the airlines and an extension of the peak holiday travelling period to meet increased demand. Rome’s performance reflects increased capacity.
“Our UK airports have had a series of positive route developments announced this month with increased services being added at both Bristol and Birmingham,” Mather said. “At Bristol, easyJet will commence operating its Pisa service year round from January. At Birmingham, bmibaby announced three new routes to Glasgow, Faro and Murcia to start at the end of March 2007.”
Mather also noted the relaunch of SN Brussels and Virgin Express as Brussels Airlines from summer 2007.
MORE STORIES ON MACQUARIE AIRPORTS
Ferrovial and Macquarie strike new agreement on Bristol Airport shareholding – 28/07/06
International pax growth helps Macquarie Airports report solid traffic increases for May – 20/06/06
