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Fraport Traffic Figures March and First Quarter of 2019: Growth Trend Continues

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Fraport

Passenger traffic rises at Frankfurt Airport – Fraport’s Group
airports worldwide largely report positive performance
In the first three months of 2019, Frankfurt Airport (FRA) served
almost 14.8 million passengers – an increase of 2.5 percent
year-on-year. Aircraft movements rose by 3.0 percent to 116,581
takeoffs and landings. Accumulated maximum takeoff weights (MTOWs)
climbed by 2.9 percent to some 7.3 million metric tons. Only cargo
throughput (airfreight + airmail) declined by 2.3 percent to a total
of 527,151 metric tons, reflecting the worldwide economic slowdown.
In March 2019, Frankfurt Airport recorded year-on-year traffic growth
of 1.4 percent to about 5.6 million passengers. This increase was
achieved despite the fact that, in March last year, traffic was
additionally boosted by the earlier timing of the Easter school
holidays, falling in April this year. Aircraft movements climbed by
2.1 percent to 42,056 takeoffs and landings, while accumulated MTOWs
grew by 2.8 percent to about 2.6 million metric tons. Cargo
throughput remained almost level compared to March 2018, rising by
0.2 percent to 202,452 metric tons.
Across the Group, the airports in Fraport’s international portfolio
largely performed well in the first quarter of 2019, even though the
different timing of the Easter holidays had an impact on some
airports serving tourist destinations. Ljubljana Airport (LJU) in
Slovenia closed the January-to-March period with an increase of 4.0
percent to 342,636 passengers (March 2019: up 3.0 percent to 133,641
passengers). In Brazil, the two airports of Fortaleza (FOR) and Porto
Alegre (POA), combined, welcomed some 3.9 million passengers, posting
a gain of 11.9 percent (March 2019: up 8.3 percent to approximately
1.2 million passengers).
Fraport’s 14 Greek regional airports served some 1.9 million
passengers overall in the first quarter of the year – an increase of
8.2 percent (March 2019: up 1.1 percent to a total of 713,045
passengers). The busiest airports in Fraport’s Greek portfolio
included Thessaloniki (SKG) with around 1.2 million passengers (up
20.3 percent), Chania (CHQ) on the island of Crete with 153,225
passengers (down 0.4 percent), and Rhodes (RHO) with 151,493
passengers (down 18.1 percent).
Lima Airport (LIM) in Peru advanced by 3.7 percent to some 5.5
million passengers (March 2019: up 2.2 percent to about 1.8 million
passengers). Combined traffic at the two airports of Varna (VAR) and
Burgas (BOJ) on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast slipped by 5.8 percent
to 203,606 passengers (March 2019: down 9.9 percent to 74,102
passengers). Antalya Airport (AYT) in Turkey posted a 5.8 percent
gain to more than 2.7 million passengers (March 2019: down 0.1
percent to nearly 1.1 million passengers). St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo
Airport (LED) in Russia grew by 14.7 percent to about 3.6 million
passengers (March 2019: up 16.3 percent to approximately 1.3 million
passengers). Almost 11.3 million passengers passed through Xi’an
Airport (XIY) in China in the first three months of the year,
representing an increase of 8.0 percent (March 2019: up 3.7 percent
to nearly 3.8 million passengers).

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IATA Report: Aviation continues to deliver solid

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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global passenger traffic results for February 2019 showing total revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) rose 5.3%, compared to February 2018. This was the slowest rate of growth in more than a year but still in line with long-term demand trends. Monthly capacity (available seat kilometers or ASKs) increased by 5.4%, and load factor slipped 0.1 percentage point to 80.6%, which is still high by historic standards.

“After January’s strong performance, we settled down a bit in February, in line with concerns about the broader economic outlook. Continuing trade tensions between the US and China, and unresolved uncertainty over Brexit are also weighing on the outlook for travel,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

February 2019
(% year-on-year)		 World share1 RPK ASK PLF
(%-pt)2		 PLF
(level)3
Total Market 100.0% 5.3% 5.4% -0.1% 80.6%
Africa 2.1% 2.8% 1.1% 1.1% 70.4%
Asia Pacific 34.5% 6.3% 5.8% 0.4% 82.6%
Europe 26.7% 7.3% 7.7% -0.3% 81.5%
Latin America 5.1% 5.0% 5.5% -0.4% 81.3%
Middle East 9.2% -0.9% 2.7% -2.6% 72.6%
North America 22.4% 4.2% 3.9% 0.3% 80.8%

 

nternational Passenger Markets

February international passenger demand rose 4.6% compared to February 2018, which was a slowdown from 5.9% growth in January. Capacity climbed 5.1%, and load factor dropped 0.4 percentage point to 79.5%. Airlines in all regions but the Middle East showed traffic growth versus the year-ago period.

  • European carriers showed the strongest performance for a fifth consecutive month in February. Passenger demand increased by 7.6%, compared to a year ago, unchanged from January. Europe’s continuing strong performance provides a paradox given Brexit concerns and signs of a softer economic outlook. Capacity rose 8.0% and load factor slid 0.3 percentage point to 82.3%, which still was the highest among regions.
  • Asia-Pacific airlines’ February traffic rose 4.2% compared to the year-ago period, a substantial slowdown from the 7.2% increase recorded in January. The timing of the Lunar New Year holiday in the first week of February this year may have shifted some traffic to January. Capacity increased 4.7% and load factor dipped 0.3 percentage point to 81.0%.
  • Middle East carriers recorded a 0.8% traffic decline in February compared to a year ago, the only region to report a drop year-over-year. Capacity rose 2.9% and load factor fell 2.7 percentage points to 72.6%. Broadly speaking, passenger volumes of the region’s airlines have been moving sideways for the past 12 – 15 months.
  • North American airlines’ traffic climbed 4.2% in February, a decline from 5.4% growth in January. Capacity rose 2.9% and load factor was up 1.0 percentage point to 79.0%. Signs of softening economic activity at the end of 2018, in conjunction with the effects of ongoing tensions between the US and several of its trading partners, may be mitigated by the region’s low unemployment and generally sound economic backdrop.
  • Latin American airlines saw traffic rise 4.3% compared to February 2018, a slippage from 5.4% annual growth in January. Capacity increased by 5.6%, and load factor dropped 1.0 percentage point to 81.4%. Renewed economic and political uncertainties in a number of key countries may weigh upon air transport demand in coming months.
  • African airlines experienced a 2.5% rise in traffic for the month compared to the year-ago period, down from 5.1% growth in January. Concerns over conditions in the largest economies are contributing to the slowdown. Capacity rose 0.3%, and load factor climbed 1.5 percentage points to 69.7%.

Domestic Passenger Markets

Domestic travel demand rose 6.4% in February compared to February 2018, down from 7.4% annual growth in January. All markets except Australia reported increases in traffic, with India recording its 54th consecutive month of double-digit percentage growth. Domestic capacity climbed 5.8%, and load factor edged up 0.5 percentage point to 82.4%.

 

  • China topped the growth chart for a second month in a row, with RPKs up a strong 11.4% year-on-year, although this was down from 14.5% growth in January compared to a year ago.
  • Brazil’s domestic traffic increased 5.8% in February, compared to a year ago, the fastest pace in more than six months and more than double the 2.6% year-over-year rise for January. Brazil was the only domestic market tracked by IATA to show an increase in the year-on-year growth rate compared to January 2019.

The Bottom Line

“While overall economic confidence appears to be softening, aviation continues to deliver solid results, helping to sustain global commerce and the movement of people. The Brexit deadline has come and gone with no separation agreement, but with vital air connectivity between the UK and the Continent maintained for the present. Temporary measures, however, are no substitute for a comprehensive Brexit package that will ensure that the Business of Freedom is able to play its vital role in contributing to the well-being of the region—and the world,” said de Juniac.

Read the full February Passenger Traffic Analysis  (pdf)

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Travel Trends Index: International and domestic travel growth projected to dwindle

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Travel to and within the U.S. grew 3.2% year-over-year in February, according to the U.S. Travel Association’s latest Travel Trends Index (TTI).

However, the predictive Leading Travel Index (LTI) continues to project a slowdown in both international and domestic travel growth, as both segments could continue to feel the effects of rising trade tensions, volatile financial markets and weakening business and consumer confidence. These factors have the potential to stunt travel growth and dull American competitiveness at a time when the U.S. is seeking to reverse its declining share of the global international travel market.

Though international inbound travel grew for the ninth consecutive month, the segment grew only 1.4% in February. Domestic travel increased 2.8% year-over-year in February, with growth in both the business and leisure travel segments. Domestic business travel outpaced the leisure segment for the first time since October 2018, registering slightly above its six-month moving average with a 3.0% growth. Leisure growth fell slightly below its six-month moving average with a more tepid 2.6% growth rate.

Looking ahead, domestic and international inbound travel are both projected to grow, but at a moderate pace.

Said U.S. Travel Senior Vice President for Research David Huether: “Growth is expected to decelerate in the case of domestic travel while international inbound travel is projected to remain soft. This is consistent with an expectation of stable-yet-moderating economic growth both in the U.S. and globally.”

U.S. Travel economists caution that this decelerated growth rate will make it even more difficult for the U.S. to regain its diminishing share of the global international travel market. Acting on certain legislative initiatives—such as Brand USA’s long-term reauthorization and the rebranding and expansion of the Visa Waiver Program—can help the U.S. increase competitiveness in the global travel market.

The TTI is prepared for U.S. Travel by the research firm Oxford Economics. The TTI is based on public and private sector source data which are subject to revision by the source agency. The TTI draws from: advance search and bookings data from ADARA and nSight; airline bookings data from the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC); IATA, OAG and other tabulations of international inbound travel to the U.S.; and hotel room demand data from STR.

Click here to read the full report.

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