Corporate | 18 January 2007 10:00
Flughafen Wien AG / Miscellaneous
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International Airport exceeds forecast with 6.3% increase in
passengers
Final traffic results for 2006 confirm above-average growth at Vienna
International Airport for another year in succession: with increases of
6.3% in the number of passengers (forecast +6.0%), 3.7% in maximum take-off
weight (forecast +3.0%) and 2.9% in flight movements (forecast +2.0%),
results exceeded both forecasts and the European average.
The highlights for 2006 were strong development in the number of passengers
travelling to the Near East (+14.4% vs. 2005), an increase in traffic to
Eastern Europe (+8.0%), the steady growth of the low-cost carriers (+13.2%)
and higher cargo volume (incl. trucking, +13.3%).
Vienna International Airport was included in the schedules of 64 airlines
during 2006, whereby the number of destinations matched the 2005 level at
176. A total of 5,002 passengers and 63 flight movements were handled
during the peak hour (30th hour – international capacity indicator for
transportation companies) in 2006.
These results underscore the excellent position of Vienna International
Airport in comparison to other airports in Europe - with a plus of 6.3% in
the number of passengers, Vienna outpaced the European average of 5.3%
(Source ACI for the period January – November 2006). These figures were
announced by Herbert Kaufmann, member and speaker of the Management Board
of Flughafen Wien AG, at a press conference on 18 January in Vienna.
Vienna International Airport handled a total of 16,855,725 passengers on
237,490 take-offs and landings during the past year. Key support for the
development of traffic was again provided by the low-cost carriers. These
airlines transported 2,229,780 passengers, for an increase of 13.2% over
2005.
The share of passengers handled by the low-cost carriers rose from 18.9% to
20.0%. A ranking of these airlines is headed by Air Berlin with 1,057,422
passengers, followed by NIKI with 753,221 passengers and Germanwings with
360,352 passengers. Five low-cost carriers used Vienna International
Airport on a regular basis in 2006.
Leading position as east-west hub
Traffic to Eastern Europe increased by a solid 8.0%. With 42 scheduled
destinations in this region, Vienna International Airport was able to
further expand its leading role as an east-west hub for air traffic in
Europe and outrank competitors like Frankfurt (39 destinations).
Top destinations in 2006: Western Europe - London, Eastern Europe -
Moscow, long-haul - Bangkok
The highest number of passengers on scheduled flights - which represent
94.2% of the total flights at Vienna International Airport - was recorded
in traffic to London, followed by Frankfurt, Zurich, Paris and Düsseldorf.
Detailed results for Western Europe show London with 390,041 passengers,
Frankfurt with 363,221 passengers, Zurich with 312,527 passengers, Paris
with 309,695 passengers and Düsseldorf with 269,547 passengers.
The ranking for Eastern Europe shows Moscow with 113,576 passengers,
followed by Bucharest with 93,312, Warsaw with 85,027 and Sofia with
79,657.
On the long-haul routes, Bangkok placed first with 100,333 passengers and
relegated New York with 91,735 passengers to second place. These two cities
were followed by Washington, Tokyo, Delhi and Peking.
Charter traffic: Antalya remains number 1
Despite a decline of 25.4%, the Turkish Antalya Airport remained the most
popular charter destination for Austrians with 86,096 passengers. It was
followed by Heraklion with 38,660 passengers, Monastir with 31,517
passengers and Hurghada with 28,898 passengers.
Austrian Airlines Group with the largest share of passengers
A ranking of the airlines by the share of total passengers is led by the
Austrian Airlines Group with 57.0% (2005: 56.6%), followed by Air Berlin
with 6.3% (5.9%), Lufthansa with 5.6% (5.5%), NIKI with 4.5% (4.3%) and
Germanwings with 2.1% (2.1%).
The average occupancy of flights (charter and scheduled) rose from 66.4% in
2005 to 68.5%, or by 2.1 percentage points.
13.3% plus in cargo
Cargo turnover at Vienna International Airport again showed sound growth in
2006. This development was supported by a further increase in 'cargo only'
flights by Asiana Airlines and Korean Airlines. A total of 265,778 tonnes
of cargo brought a plus of 13.3%. This volume is distributed among air
cargo with 187,852 tonnes (+12.2%) and trucking with 77,926 tonnes (+16 %).
Good results at Košice and Malta
Košice Airport recorded excellent results in 2006 with 343,818 passengers,
which represents an increase of 27.4% over the previous year.
Malta handled 2,701,624 passengers in 2006, for a slight decline of 2.8%.
Ryanair added Malta to its flight schedule in November, which had an
immediate effect (+5%) on passenger volume.
Outlook
Flughafen Wien AG expects steady positive development in 2007. Forecasts
call for a plus of 5.0% in the number of passengers, 3.0% in MTOW and 2.0%
in flight movements.
The Austrian Airlines Group will introduce a new scheduled flight to
Chicago as of 29 May 2007 and NIKI will add a new scheduled flight to
Moscow with the summer flight plan for 2007. Delta Air Lines, Korean, Sky
Europe, Krasair and Air Transat will add Vienna International Airport to
their programmes beginning in 2007.
Flughafen Wien AG plans to acquire a 25.15% stake in Flughafen
Friedrichshafen GmbH (FFG) in connection with a capital increase by FFG.
Based on a recently signed letter of intent, the two companies will request
the approval of their responsible corporate bodies (Supervisory Board /
shareholders’ meeting) during the coming weeks. The conclusion of the
transaction is scheduled for the end of the first quarter of 2007, subject
to approval by the cartel authorities.
The landing tariff was reduced by 1.38% as of 1 January 2007, and the
passenger tariff remains unchanged.
Flughafen Wien AG will continue to pursue its planned expansion in 2007,
whereby the main project for the coming years will be the realisation of
the Skylink Terminal. In addition, construction on the Office Park II, the
new headquarters for the Austrian Airlines Group, is scheduled for
completion in June 2007 and plans are underway for the expansion of the
railway station.
FACTS & FIGURES 2006
Change vs.
prior year in%
Total passengers 16,855,725 6.3
thereof
Transfer passengers 5,673,586 4.2
Movements 237,490 2.9
Maximum take-off Weight 6,765,734 3.7
Air cargo 187,852 12.2
trucking 77,926 16.0
Air cargo and trucking 265,778 13.3
Passengers(scheduled)* Change vs.
prior year in %
Europe 6,659,602 8.5
Eastern Europe 1,289,714 8.0
Western Europe 5,369,888 8.6
Far East 608,061 2.2
Near East 326,451 14.4
North America 226,182 -5.4
Africa 103,965 -6.8
South America 11,315 -17.9
Passengers(scheduled)* Change vs.
prior year in
%Key destinations
Eastern Europe: Nr.1 Moskow 113,576 7.4
Western Europe: Nr.1 London 390,041 -1.0
Far East Nr.1 Bangkok 100,333 15.6
Long haul Nr.1 Bangkok 100,333 15.6
Charter Nr.1 Antalya 86,096 -25.4
* departing passengers
Investor Relations
Robert Dusek
+43/1/7007-23126
r.dusek@viennaairport.com
DGAP 18.01.2007
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Language: English
Issuer: Flughafen Wien AG
Postfach 1
1300 Wien-Flughafen Österreich
Phone: +43-1-7007/23126
Fax: +43-1-7007/23058
E-mail: r.dusek@viennaairport.com
WWW: www.viennaairport.com
ISIN: AT0000911805
WKN: 091180
Indices: ATX
Listed: Amtlicher Markt in Wien; Freiverkehr in Berlin-Bremen,
Stuttgart, München; Open Market in Frankfurt; Foreign
Exchange(s) London
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