Brussels, 14/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - According to a report published by Eurostat on Tuesday 13 January, the total number of passengers transported by air in the EU27 rose by 7.3% in 2007 compared with 2006, to 793 million. In 2006, passenger numbers in the EU27 rose by 4.7%. In 2007, the highest numbers of passengers were registered in the United Kingdom (217 million, +3%), Germany (164 million, +6%), Spain (164 million, +9%), France (120 million, +6%) and Italy (106 million, +11%). The economic and financial crisis, however, brought a gradual fall in air traffic in the EU in 2008 (see EUROPE 9810).
The report says that the number of air passengers rose in all EU member states in 2007. Four member states recorded growth of above 20% compared with 2006: Romania (+41%), Latvia (+27%), Poland (+25%) and Lithuania (+22%). The lowest growth rates were reported in Luxembourg (+2%), the United Kingdom (+3%), the Netherlands, Hungary and Cyprus (all +4%).
Of the total number of passengers transported by air, 22% (176 million) were carried on national flights, 44% (346 million) on intra-EU27 flights and 34% (271 million) on extra-EU27 flights.
The report by the Statistical Office of the European Communities shows that London/Heathrow is still the EU's busiest passenger airport, with 68 million passengers handled in 2007, up by 1% compared with 2006. Paris/Charles de Gaulle (60 million, +6%) and Frankfurt/Main (54 million, +3%) were the second and third busiest airports, followed by Madrid/Barajas (51 million, +14%), which in 2007 overtook Amsterdam/Schiphol (48 million, +4%) in 2007.
London/Heathrow (38 million) handled most extra-EU27 passengers, Amsterdam/Schiphol (27 million) most international intra-EU27 passengers and Madrid/Barajas (23 million) most national passengers. The busiest extra-EU27 routes were London Heathrow - New York/JFK (2.8 million, +3%), Paris/Charles de Gaulle - New York/JFK (1.7 million, +4%), London Heathrow - Chicago/O'Hare (1.6 million, +6%), London Heathrow - Dubai International (1.6 million, +14%) and London Heathrow - Hong Kong International (1.5 million, +3%). The busiest intra-EU27 routes were London Heathrow - Dublin (2.0 million, -1%), London Heathrow - Amsterdam/Schiphol (1.8 million, -3%) and London Heathrow - Paris/Charles de Gaulle (1.8 million, -9%). The busiest national routes were Madrid/Barajas - Barcelona (4.6 million passengers, +4% in 2007 compared with 2006), Roma/Fiumicino - Milano/Linate (2.5 million, +5%), Paris/Orly - Toulouse Blagnac (2.3 million, -1%) and Paris/Orly - Nice/Côte d'Azur (2.3 million, 0%). (O.L./transl.rt)