ASIA PACIFIC/MIDDLE EAST. Passenger traffic rose in Asia Pacific and Middle East regions in September, with growth of +3.4% and +1.6% respectively, according to figures released by Airports Council International Asia-Pacific.
India led the increase within its region, with a +14% year-on-year rise in passenger traffic, including a surge of +25.8% in Bangalore and +10.7% growth in Delhi.
In China, passenger growth slowed to +4%. Unusual weather conditions and earthquakes led to sharp falls in passenger volume elsewhere in the region, with declines of -47.8% and -21.6% at Osaka Kansai and Sapporo New Chitose respectively.
The year-to-date increase in Asia-Pacific airports is +7.6%. In the Middle East it is +2.1%.
Passenger traffic slowed in many Middle Eastern airports in September as the Eid holiday and Hajj season ended. However, Kuwait posted a +12.6% increase in passenger volume and Muscat International (a new airport inaugurated last month) delivered a +6.4% rise.
Inbound tourists and a growth in international flights also led to an +8.7% spike in Indonesia.
