INTERNATIONAL. German and international airport group Fraport turned in a mixed result for passenger traffic in December across its portfolio.
Flagship Frankfurt Airport posted a +3.9% increase in passengers to 4,258,645 but for the full year saw a small -0.4% year-on-year decline to 60,786,937.
Fraport said that Frankfurt traffic’s had been hit by a slowdown in the summer caused by geopolitical factors but picked up towards the end of the year. Without weather and strike-related flight cancellations, passenger numbers would have risen by approximately +0.4% during 2016, it said.
The group’s fully consolidated airports in Lima, Peru (+2.3%); Burgas, Bulgaria (+22%); Varna, Bulgaria (+20.8%) all showed growth for the full year. Ljubljana Airport in Slovenia was down by -2.3%. See tables for full results.
Antalya Airport in Turkey only posted a -1.6% decline in the month but for the full year was down by -30.9%, driven by political instability and terrorism.
Fraport AG Executive Board Chairman Dr. Stefan Schulte*, said: “Despite a challenging environment, we were able to keep Frankfurt Airport’s passenger numbers at a stable level during 2016. Particularly in view of the recovery in passenger traffic towards the end of 2016, we are optimistic about the year ahead. In 2017, we will strengthen the low-cost segment and expect our traffic to grow again here in Frankfurt.”
*Dr Stefan Schulte was named as one of The Moodie Davitt Report’s People of the Year for 2016. Click here to read the report.
