Passenger Growth in the First Half of 2019
The first half of 2019 shows an increase in the number of passengers flying from the airport in Aarhus. Compared to the first half of 2018, the passenger number has increased by a total of 11.1 per cent, and for both the foreign and charter routes, the increase is above 20 per cent.
The development in passenger numbers is mainly due to the airport's expanded cooperation with SAS, which has added many new routes to the portfolio and strong Ryanair and charter operations.
“We have a strategic focus on expanding the grid at the airport, and here SAS plays a central role. It is a pleasure to see that mainland Danes are taking a positive view of the development and that more travelers are taking advantage of the opportunities to fly from Aarhus, ” says new CEO, Peer H. Kristensen.
In 2018 came nine new routes and in 2019 the list was further expanded - most recently with brand new flights to Greek islands Zakynthos and Crete, which also helped drive the progress of charter operations.
The many new air routes from Aarhus have generated increased passenger numbers on international routes, but had meant a slight decrease in domestic traffic connecting onwardsuntil. In many cases, the direct routes to destinations in the Nordic countries and Europe had lowered Copenhagen uplift. However, domestic service is now also in growth.
In 2018, international traffic for the first time exceeded domestic as the largest market, and the trend has continued in to 2019. Efforts with route expansion have been ongoing since 2016 and is a key element of the airport's new growth strategy.
“In addition to route development and passenger growth, the first half of 2019 has offered organizational changes for Aarhus Airport. We are still investing heavily in strengthening and complete modernisation of the airport with the end goal of being mainland Denmark’s preferred airport and a great gateway to Scandinavia’s fifth largest metropolitan area, ”says Peer H. Kristensen.