Corporate | 15 January 2009 08:00
Flughafen Wien AG / Miscellaneous
Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory
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• Traffic growth in 2008: +5.2%
• Strong development in traffic to Middle East: +6.3%
• Increase in traffic to Eastern Europe: +9.6%
• Growth in low-cost carriers: +31.3%
• Passenger forecasts for 2009: - 5.0%
With an increase of 5.2% in the number of passengers for 2008, Vienna
International Airport clearly exceeded the European average (which equaled
-0.1% from January to November according to ACI) but fell short of the 6.0%
forecasted by Flughafen Wien AG. A total of 19,747,289 passengers were
handled at Vienna International Airport during 2008. Against the backdrop
of the current economic situation, Flughafen Wien AG is issuing the
following forecasts for 2009: minus 5.0% in the number of passengers, minus
4.0% in maximum take-off weight (MTOW) and minus 4.0% in flight movements.
'The aviation branch has not remained untouched by current economic
developments, and Vienna International Airport is also unable to detach
from these trends. However, we are well equipped to meet the coming
challenges – with four strong advantages over our competitors: an ideal
geographic position as a hub for Eastern Europe and the Middle East; high
quality service standards as the most punctual transfer airport in Europe
with a minimum connecting time of 25 minutes that is unmatched in European
comparison; an attractive tariff model for airlines with our transfer
incentive system; and guaranteed infrastructure capacity for the future',
explained Herbert Kaufmann, member and speaker of the Management Board of
Flughafen Wien AG, at a press conference on 15 January in Vienna.
The 19.7 million passengers handled in 2008 represent an increase of 1
million over the previous year as well as the creation of roughly 1,000 new
jobs at the airport site. Through the positive development of the low-cost
carriers, Vienna International Airport also makes an important contribution
to the tourism industry in the eastern region of Austria.
The highlights of 2008 included the strong development in passenger traffic
to the Middle East – with a year-on-year increase of 6.3% – as well as an
increase in travel to Eastern Europe (+9.6%) and the growth of the low-cost
carriers (+31.3%). Vienna International Airport also recorded a plus of
6.3% in maximum take-off weight (MTOW) and 4.5% in flight movements, and a
decline of 1.6% in cargo (incl. trucking).
Vienna International Airport was able to further improve its excellent
punctuality rating in 2008, ranking second in a comparison of 27 European
airports. Among the hubs with comparable shares of transfers, Vienna offers
the best on-time service. Delays were recorded on 19.6% of all flights from
January to December, which reflects a decline of 2% in relation to the
previous year.
In the past year Vienna International Airport handled 19,747,289 passengers
on 266,402 take-offs and landings. A major driver for the strong growth in
passenger volume was the continued positive development of the low-cost
carriers. These airlines transported 4,601,963 passengers in 2008, which
represents an increase of 31.3%. The leader among the low-cost carriers was
NIKI with 1,379,819 passengers, followed by Air Berlin with 1,327,916 and
SkyEurope with 1,191,690. Seven low-cost carriers serviced Vienna during
2008.
Top destinations in 2008:
Western Europe: Frankfurt
Eastern Europe: Bucharest
Long-haul routes: Bangkok
A total of 75 airlines included Vienna in their flight plans for travel to
187 scheduled destinations in 2008. The highest share of passengers in this
traffic segment, which was responsible 96.5% of the total volume at Vienna
International Airport, was recorded by Frankfurt with 441,134 passengers,
followed by London with 411,599 passengers and Paris with 399,016
passengers. The ranking for Eastern Europe shows Bucharest with 190,792
passengers, followed by Moscow with 182,659 and Sofia with 154,285. The
most passengers on long-haul flights were recorded by Bangkok with 108,987,
followed by Washington with 83,964 and Tokyo with 81,668.
Largest share of passengers for the Austrian Airlines Group
A ranking of the airlines by the number of passengers carried is led by the
Austrian Airlines Group with 49.6%, NIKI with 7.0%, Air Berlin with 6.7%,
SkyEurope with 6.0% and Lufthansa with 5.2%. The average seat occupancy
(charter and scheduled flights) declined from 69.2% in 2007 to 68.2%,
primarily due to lower seat occupancy on charter flights.
1.6% decline in cargo turnover
Cargo turnover of 267,985 tonnes in 2008 represented a year-on-year
decrease of 1.6%. Air cargo reported a minus of 2.3% to 187,303 tonnes,
while trucking rose by 0.1% to 80,682 tonnes.
Sound results for international investments
Košice Airport recorded excellent results for 2008, with an increase of
33.3% in the number of passengers to 590,919. Malta Airport handled
3,109,643 passengers during the past year, for a plus of 4.7%.
Friedrichshafen Airport recorded a slight decline of 0.9% to 649,646
passengers.
Outlook
For 2009 Flughafen Wien AG is forecasting a minus of 5.0% in the number of
passengers, minus 4.0% in maximum take-off weight (MTOW) and minus 4.0% in
flight movements. The long-term average growth rate for the period up to
2020 is estimated at 5.4%. Vienna International Airport will soon welcome
two new airlines: the Irish Aer Lingus and the Greek Aegean Airlines will
introduce flights to Vienna in April 2009. As of 1 January 2009 the
landing, parking and airside infrastructure tariffs were raised by 0.72% as
well as an increase of 0.38% in the passenger tariff and the landside
infrastructure tariff.
Facts and Figures 2008
in % vs. 2007
Passengers (total) 19,747,289 5.2%
Thereof
Transfer passengers 5,936,560 -0.9%
Flight movements 266,402 4.5%
MTOW 7,812,763 6.3%
Air cargo 187,303 -2.3%
Trucking 80,682 0.1%
Air cargo and trucking 267,985 -1.6%
SCHEDULED TRAFFIC
Passengers* in % vs. 2007
Europe 8,273,245 7.1%
Thereof
Eastern Europe 1,762,949 9.6%
Western Europe 6,510,296 6.5%
Far East 449,738 -10.6%
Middle East 411,256 6.3%
North America 283,099 8.6%
Africa 118,094 -7.3%
South America 3,622 520.2%
Key Destinations
Passengers* in % vs. 2007
Eastern Europe Nr.1: Bucharest 190,792 28.6%
Western Europe Nr.1: Frankfurt 441,134 1.9%
Far East Nr.1: Bangkok 108,987 1.7%
Long-haul Nr.1: Bangkok 108,987 1.7%
Charter Nr.1: Antalya 59,129 -20.8%
Flughafen Wien AG
Investor Relations
Robert Dusek:
Tel:+43-1-7007/23126
e-mail: r.dusek@viennaairport.com
15.01.2009 Financial News transmitted by DGAP
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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
Internet: www.viennaairport.com
ISIN: AT0000911805
WKN: 884216
Indices: ATX
Listed: Freiverkehr in Berlin, München, Stuttgart; Open Market in
Frankfurt; Foreign Exchange(s) London, Wien
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