Routes and Airports Channel

Airport traffic decline slows in March but swine flu latest threat to air travel

By Perry Flint
ATW's Airports Today, May, 2009, p.4

The rate of decline in global passenger traffic slowed in March compared to February, according to Airports Council International. But the organization warned that the swine flu outbreak could affect trends going forward as people cancel travel plans and authorities try to contain the outbreak.

Airports handled a total of 250.8 million passengers in March, down 8.3% compared to the year-ago period but an improvement over the 10.3% year-to-year decline recorded for February passenger traffic.

On May 1, the World Health Organization said it was not recommending travel restrictions related to the H1N1 virus. However, over the weekend China took steps to restrict entry and movement inside China of Mexican nationals and travelers who recently visited Mexico. Certain countries in South America also have put travel restrictions in place dealing with Mexico, and Continental Airlines on May 1 said it was cutting capacity to Mexico by 50% in response to lower demand that at least partly was attributable to concerns about swine flu.

March international traffic fell 10.7% to 106 million passengers while domestic traffic dropped 6.2% to 140.9 million. North American domestic passenger traffic, representing slightly more than half the world total at 70.8 million, sank 10.1%, according to ACI.

Asia/Pacific airport traffic was down 2.1% in March year-to-year versus 2.5% for the 2009 first quarter. Asia/Pacific international passenger traffic was off 8.8% for the month compared to a 9.6% decline for the quarter. Europe registered the largest monthly decrease in March with total passenger traffic down 12.5%, while North American airports saw total passenger numbers fall 10.3%.

ACI noted that the shift of the Easter holiday from March last year to April this year contributed to the weaker 2009 numbers in several parts of the world. African airport traffic fell 11.8% in March and 11.4% for the quarter, but the situation was reversed for international traffic, down 8.2% and 8.6% respectively. Middle East airport traffic rose 0.1% in March and 0.7% for the first quarter, while Latin American traffic fell 6.3% in March and 5.5% for the quarter.

ACI said total freight was down 18.5% for the month and 20.4% for the first quarter, noting that the decline softened in March from its ebb point in December 2008/January 2009. International freight traffic fell 22.5% against 24.5% for the first quarter.

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