Alexandre Rocha*
alexandre.rocha@anba.com.br
São Paulo – The Middle East continues leading the growth of passenger movement in airports. According to a study disclosed yesterday (10) by Airports Council International (ACI), the movement in the region was 12.17 million passengers in the first two months, an increase of 13.6% in comparison with the same period last year.
In second place, in terms of growth of passenger flow, comes Africa, with 13.4 million de passengers, 11.9% growth over the same two months in 2007. Then came Latin America and the Caribbean, with movement of 18.5 million people, an increase of 7.2%, Europe, with 125 million, 6.2% more, Asia and Pacific, with 110.7 million, growth of 5.2% and North America, 148 million, 1.5% more.
The figures for February – when compared with the same month last year – and for the 12-month period ending in February – over the previous 12 month period – show an identical growth ranking, with the Middle East in first, followed by Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and Pacific and North America.
The ACI figures include domestic and international flights. The study that the institution produces every month represents around 60% of the global passenger traffic and 70% of the cargo transport. The Council has 580 associated companies, which operate 1,647 airports in 175 countries and territories.
In the area of cargo, the Middle East also led the growth in the first months of last year. The region answered to the throughput of 468,200 tonnes, an increase of 8.5% over the same period in 2007. Then came Latin America and the Caribbean, with 295,100 tonnes, growth of 8.2%, Asia and Pacific, with over 3 million tonnes, 8.1% more, Europe, 1.6 million tonnes, growth of 6.9%, Africa, with 113,800 tonnes, expansion of 3.1% and North America, with 2.8 million tonnes, reduction of 0.8%.
In this case, ACI computes domestic and international throughput. With regard to international freight, Latin America led the growth, with 215,200 tonnes in the first two months, an increase of 11.5% over the same period last year.
Brazil
In the case of Brazil, in the first months of the year, the passenger throughput was 18.6 million people, growth of 3.67% over the same period in 2007, when considering boarding and arrivals. The figures were supplied by the Brazilian Airport Infrastructure Company (Infraero). The company administers 67 airports, including the largest in the country.
*Translated by Mark Ament
