PRESS RELEASES
30 OCTOBER 2009
A positive 3rd trimester for Athens International Airport
  • Domestic market enjoys robust growth
  • Only major European airport to record flight increase in the period Jan - Sept

The third trimester closed positively for Athens International Airport (+1.4%), improving the year-to-date results, in a year marked by the negative impact of the global economic conditions on the aviation industry.

July - September, analytically

Athens International Airport is among few major European airports that recorded positive traffic numbers in the 3rd trimester with 5,412,481 passengers. July and August surpassed previous year by 2% and 2.1% respectively, while September, retaining prior-year levels with a slight -0.1% loss, registered one of the best performances amongst its European counterparts.

This positive development is mainly due to the dynamics of the domestic market registering a +7.6% growth, while international traffic dropped by -1.8%. Total number of flights increased significantly by +7.1%, with the domestic sector up by +16.5% and international flights slightly dropping by -1.1%.

The third trimester was highlighted by August enjoying the strongest traffic growth, with a 2.1% rise in passenger volumes, bringing AIA to the top position amongst more than 30 major European airports that posted an average -4% decline.

Year-to-date

In the overall major European airports ranking (*) for the period January through September, Athens International Airport registered the least traffic loss (-2.3%, 12,617,608 passengers) amongst its European counterparts, considerably limited compared to the European average decline (-7.4%). In addition, on a year-to-date basis, AIA is the only major European airport recording a rise in flights (+4.6%, 161,503 flights).

Specifically, in the first 9 months of the year, the airport added to its network
 

  • 13 new airlines (Air Arabia, Athens Airways, Atlant-Soyuz Airlines, Baboo, Cimber Sterling, Etihad, Hellenic Imperial, Kuban Airlines, Libyan, Lviv, Pegasus, Sun Express, Transavia)
  • 9 new international destinations (Abu Dhabi, Benghazi, Birmingham, Casablanca, Krasnodar, Nice, Izmir, Sharjah, Tripoli)

Commenting on the airport’s traffic results, Athens International Airport CEO, Dr. Yiannis Paraschis, stated: “The strong dynamics of the domestic market and AIA’s development strategy led us to a positive 3rd trimester and improved yearly results todate, with Athens traffic registering the least traffic loss compared to its European counterparts. However, according to all predictions, the international crisis will persist; AIA will continue its efforts, based on sound planning, and above all, consistently with the same spirit of cooperation with our airline partners”.

* Source: Airports Council International (Rapid Data Exchange Programme)

Select the following links for AIA’s traffic statistics update: