Brussels, 13/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - In May 2009, the number of air passengers fell by 8.3% compared to May 2008. This was the worst result for air travel since the beginning of the current downturn, according to data provided on Friday 10 July by the Association of European Airlines (AEA). Flights to the Far East (including South Asia and Australia) were the most affected, with a 10.3% fall in the number of boarded passengers and a 9.8% decline in traffic compared to the pervious year. Air traffic on the North Atlantic lines was 8.8% down, while cross-border European air traffic contracted by 7.9%. Preliminary estimates for June nonetheless showed a slight stabilisation on cross-border European and North Atlantic routes, unlike air traffic to the Far East which is still characterised by market decline. The fall in passenger numbers at the end of June was 5.5% compared to 7.5% during the first two weeks of the months. According to the association of airport operators, ACI-Europe, passenger air travel contracted by a total of 10.1% over the first half of 2009 (January-May). Airports in a first group (more than 25 million passengers annually), second group (10-25 million passengers), third group (5-10 million passengers) and fourth group (fewer than 5 million passengers annually) all suffered losses compared to May 2008 with declines of 8%, 10%, 8.9% and 9.2% respectively. Taking the EU as a whole, only 9 airports mainly used by low-cost airlines saw their air traffic increase, namely: Milan-Malpensa (+2.3%), Marseilles (+10.9%), Milan Orio Al Serio (+8.5%), Rome Ciampino (1.7%), Edinburgh (+1.5%), Charleroi (+25.9%), Bologna (+15.7%), Bergen (+12.5%) and Riga (+10%).
The air freight sector has suffered even heavier losses, with a general 19.8% decline in traffic in May 2009, AEA states. The largest falls were recorded for long haul flights (-20.9%) while cross-border European connections contracted by 16%. According to AEA forecasts, nothing shows that the situation of air freight will improve in coming weeks. (A.By./transl.jl)