Director General Angela Gittens comments, “November reporting indicates that 2010 will set a new record for global airport industry traffic with total passenger growth near 7 percent. Within that overall increase there are marked regional differences. While the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Latin America-Caribbean regions surged well beyond pre-crisis passenger volumes, Europe and North America lag behind previous peak performance. Nonetheless, Europe appears to be on track to becoming the largest traffic region in 2010 for the first time ever, moving ahead of the North America market. It remains to be seen how significantly the harsh winter weather will affect December traffic results.”

Freight traffic growth is still slowing relative to its rapid rebound in the first half of 2010. Comparing November 2010 to November 2009, total freight increased by 4.3 percent, international freight rose by 5.3 percent and domestic freight by 1.3 percent. Year to date in 2010, global freight growth reaches 18.2 percent, with international freight at 23.4 percent and domestic freight at 9 percent for the 11-month period.

Gittens comments, “Freight growth was exceptional in 2010 and despite a marked slowdown in the second semester, the overall increase of close to 18 percent more than compensates for the 8 percent drop in 2009. The divergence among the regions is less pronounced than in the passenger sector, as all regions enjoyed double digit growth earlier in the year.”

Passenger traffic

Russia, India, Egypt, Brazil, South Korea, United Arab Emirates contributed most significantly to a global 6.5 percent increase in passengers worldwide. Individual airports outside of these countries that had a favourable impact on passenger numbers worldwide were Shanghai Hongqiao (+24.5%), Barcelona (+15%), Boston (+13%), Amsterdam (+11%), Munich (+11%), Kuala Lumpur (+10.5%), New York/ LGA (+10%), Istanbul Ataturk (+12.5%), Manila (+16.5%).

The worldwide growth average was slightly dampened by results reported from Athens (-9.5%), Mexico City (-9.5%), London Stansted (-7.5%), and Tokyo Narita (-6). Overall, however, only 15 percent of airports in the sample registered a decrease in passengers.

Domestic traffic was strong in China, India, Brazil, Turkey and the US.  For international traffic results, Mexico City (-22%) and Tokyo Narita (-7.5%) suffered the largest declines, while Muscat (29.5%), Moscow Sheremetyevo (+24%), Cairo (+23%), Barcelona (+20%), Incheon (+20%), Dubai (+16%) gained significant international traffic.

Regional passenger traffic growth ranged between 5 percent (North America and Latin America -Caribbean) and 13 percent (Middle East). Africa grew by 10.3 percent, Asia Pacific by 8.2 percent and Europe by 6.9 percent. Growth in Africa was driven by Egypt, Tunisia and South Africa strongly characterized by international leisure travel. In Asia Pacific, the largest market China has slowed to single digit growth, which is the slowest growth rate in the region since July 2009. Europe benefits from very robust growth in Russia and Turkey. North America results are pushed by domestic carrier competition especially on the East Coast, whereas Latin America-Caribbean results were dragged down by traffic drops in Mexico where the security situation weighs on demand for inbound travel.

Freight traffic

Freight growth has been slowing down considerably since mid year. In November total freight volumes grew by 4.3 percent, the slowest growth since October 2009. To put that figure in perspective, however, it must be noted that these results compare with November 2009 which already saw a healthy 11 percent post-crisis increase.

Overall growth was lifted by 8 percent growth in Europe and 7.5 percent growth in international freight in North America making these two regions the fastest growing in November. The hitherto very robustly growing regions Middle East, Latin America and Asia Pacific are in consolidation mode as their freight volumes surged during the reference period at the end of 2009.

Growth stagnated in Singapore and Dubai, while Shanghai Pudong (-2%) and Incheon (-1%) registered negative growth. A number of US and European airports showed robust growth.