Frankfurt Airport Reports Slight Increase in Passenger Volumes Despite Strike

In April 2014, Fraport AG welcomed more than 4.7 million passengers at its Frankfurt Airport (FRA) home base.  This corresponds to a slight increase of 0.9 percent compared to the same month of the previous year.  FRA’s traffic statistics for the reporting period were influenced partly by opposing special and base-year effects.  In April 2013, a strike by Lufthansa ground staff led to some 950 flight cancellations, affecting more than 100,000 passengers.  In the first week of April 2014, a three-day walkout by the Vereinigung Cockpit pilots’ union resulted in some 2,160 cancellations, affecting some 250,000 passengers.
 
Cargo volumes edged down by 1.2 percent to 171,909 metric tons in the reporting period.  This was due to the strike-related reduction in shipping capacities as well as the shift of the Easter holidays from March to April in 2014, with cargo business slowing down during the holiday period.  Aircraft movements decreased by 4.1 percent year-on-year, to 37,632 takeoffs and landings.  Accumulated maximum takeoff weights (MTOW) also slightly contracted by 0.9 percent to just under 3 million metric tons.
 
The Fraport Group’s portfolio of international airports posted a very positive performance.  Almost 1.2 million passengers passed through Peru’s Lima Airport (LIM) in April 2014 – an increase of 6.4 percent compared to the same month of the previous year.  Fraport’s two airports on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast – Burgas (BOJ) and Varna (VAR) – recorded a combined count of 59,328 passengers, up 25.4 percent.
 
Antalya Airport (AYT) on the Turkish Riviera welcomed about 1.7 million passengers in April 2014, up 12.6 percent.  With 951,904 passengers, Pulkovo Airport (LED) in St. Petersburg (Russia) recorded an increase of 8.3 percent, while passenger volumes at Hanover Airport (HAJ) in Germany expanded by 3.3 percent to 435,205.  A total of 2.4 million passengers used Xi’an Airport (XIY) in China in the reporting period. This corresponds to an increase of 11.7 percent year-on-year.

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140% jump in continental traffic through Shannon Airport

There has been a significant increase in passenger numbers at Shannon airport since last year.

There was a 140% jump in figures on continental services in April in comparison with the same last year.

It follows a five-year decline in numbers. The facility separated from the state airports group in January of last year.

Shannon Airport expects further growth in 2014

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Qatar Airways to increase seat capacity on Doha-Vienna route from Sept 1, 2014

In order to cater to the increasing passenger demand, Qatar Airways will upgrade its service on the Doha-Vienna route with the introduction of an A330 aircraft. The upgrade from an A320 to the A330 aircraft will commence on September 1, 2014, as per a release.

The switch from the A320 to an A330 will increase the total number of weekly seats servicing the route to 336 Business Class seats and 3,304 Economy Class seats, resulting in an increase of 168 and 1,624 seats, respectively.

Günter Saurwein, Country Manager Germany & Austria, Qatar Airways, said, “We recently celebrated the tenth anniversary of our first flight to Vienna; a milestone which is a testament to our commitment to not only the city, but to our customers as well. We are extremely pleased that we are now able to offer an increase in capacity by introducing the A330 to the route in order to help meet the growing needs of our passengers. It has been a pleasure to work with Vienna Airport in developing this route over the last decade and we look forward to many more successful years working together.”

Julian Jäger, Board Member, Vienna Airport, added, “Our cooperation with Qatar Airways has worked well for many years, and we see the sound development of traffic on this route as a very positive factor. We therefore welcome the changeover to a larger aircraft and the resulting expansion of capacity on these flights. This will further enhance the role of Vienna Airport as a gateway to the Middle East.”

On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, flight QR183 departs Doha at 08:35 hrs to arrive in Vienna at 13:25 hrs. On the return leg, flight QR184 departs 16:15hrs to reach Doha at 22:35 hrs. On Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, flight QR181 departs Doha at 01:50 hrs to arrive in Vienna 06:40 hrs. On the return journey, flight QR182 departs Vienna at 11:45 hrs to reach Doha at 18:05 hrs.

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Heathrow Airport reports growth in February passenger traffic

London Heathrow Airport served 4.9 million passengers in February 2014, up 1% from corresponding period in 2013.

The increase in number of passengers can be attributed to a rise in passengers flying to emerging market countries, including BRIC countries.

Overall passenger numbers to BRIC countries increased 2.5%, with

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