Traffic Results 2009

Forecast for 2010: 2.0% increase in passenger volume  

• Passenger traffic in 2009:                                      - 8.3%
• Passenger traffic to Middle East:                            + 5.7%
• Passenger traffic to Eastern Europe:                      - 15.1%
• Passenger traffic with low-cost carriers:                    - 9.0%
• Forecast for passenger traffic in 2010:                    + 2.0%

With a decline of 8.3% in the number of passengers for 2009, Flughafen Wien AG exceeded its own forecast. A total of 18,114,103 passengers were handled at Vienna International Airport during the past year. For 2010, Flughafen Wien AG is forecasting growth of 2% in the number of passengers and 5% in maximum take-off weight (MTOW) as well as a constant number of flight movements (+/- 0%).   "2009 was a difficult year for the aviation industry, and Vienna International Airport was unable to detach from these developments. After five years of above-average growth, we recorded a decline of 8.3% in the number of passengers for 2009. However, this downward trend now appears to have bottomed out and we expect an increase of 2.0% in passenger volume for the coming year. We see good opportunities for long-term growth - and Vienna International Airport is well positioned to utilise these opportunities with an ideal geographic position as a hub to Eastern Europe and the Middle East, high-quality services, an attractive tariff model for airlines and guaranteed infrastructure capacity", commented Herbert Kaufmann, Speaker of the Management Board of Flughafen Wien AG.   The 18.1 million passengers handled in 2009 represent a year-on-year decline of 1.6 million.Passenger traffic to the Middle East rose by 5.7% over the previous year, while traffic to Eastern Europe was 15.1% lower. Vienna International Airport is also reporting minus 7.1% in maximum take-off weight (MTOW), minus 8.6% in flight movements and minus 5.2% in cargo (incl. trucking).   Vienna International Airport was able to further improve its excellent punctuality rating in 2009: 14.0% delays were recorded during the period from January to December 2009, which is 5.6% less than in the previous year. In international comparison, Vienna ranks ahead of Munich, Zurich and Frankfurt - which are operated by Lufthansa together with Vienna in a four-hub system - as one of the most punctual airports in Europe.   Vienna International Airport handled 18,114,103 passengers on 243,430 take-offs and landings in 2009. The low-cost carriers also represented a major driver for passenger traffic in the past year, transporting a total of 4,188,868 passengers (minus 9.0% vs. 2008). The leader among the low-cost carriers was NIKI with 1,663,381 passengers, followed by Air Berlin with 1,365,801. Eleven low-cost carriers serviced Vienna on a regular basis during 2009.  

Top destinations in 2009: Western Europe - London, Eastern Europe - Moscow, Long-haul routes - Bangkok

A total of 79 airlines included Vienna in their flight plans for travel to 187 scheduled destinations during 2009. The highest share of passengers in this traffic segment, which was responsible for 96.5% of the total volume at Vienna International Airport, was recorded by London with 440,154 passengers, followed by Frankfurt with 438,439 passengers and Zurich with 378,213 passengers.The ranking for Eastern Europe shows Moscow with 181,855 passengers, followed by Bucharest with 156,676 and Sofia with 121,347. The most passengers on long-haul flights were recorded by Bangkok with 110,455, followed by New York with 77,919 and Tokyo with 76,323.

Austrian Airlines Group with the largest share of passengers

A ranking of the airlines by the number of passengers carried is led by the Austrian Airlines Group with 49.5%, NIKI with 9.2%, Air Berlin with 7.5% and Lufthansa with 5.6%. The average seat occupancy (charter and scheduled flights) rose from 68.2% in 2008 to 68.7%.  

5.2% decline in cargo turnover

Cargo turnover of 254,006 tonnes represented a year-on-year decline of 5.2%. Air cargo reported a minus of 0.8% with 185,724 tonnes, while trucking fell by 15.4% to 68,283 tonnes.  

Results of international investments

Kosice Airport handled 352,428 passengers in 2009, for a decline of 40.4% in comparison with 2008. Malta Airport handled 2.9 million passengers during the past year, which reflects a decline of 6.1% from the 2008 level. Friedrichshafen Airport reported a year-on-year decrease of 11.0% to 578,475 passengers.  

Outlook

Flughafen Wien AG is forecasting growth of 2% in the number of passengers and 5% in maximum take-off weight (MTOW) as well as a constant number of flight movements (+/- 0%) for 2010. The long-term average growth rate for the period up to 2020 equals 5.2%. As of 1 January 2010, all tariffs were increased by the consumer price index factor of 0.50% in accordance with the tariff regulations. The landing tariff was reduced by 13.0% and the passenger tariff increased by 7.3% as of this same date. This gives Flughafen Wien AG a highly competitive tariff structure that also shares the occupancy risk of the airlines.      

For additional information contact: Press Office Flughafen Wien AG

Peter Kleemann (+43-1-) 7007-23000                                        

Clemens Schleinzer (+43-1-) 7007-22399                                  

Birgit Fehsler (+43-1-) 7007-22254                                                                    p.kleemann@viennaairport.com                                                      c.schleinzer@viennaairport.com                                                           b.fehsler@viennaairport.com                

Facts and Figures 2009

Passengers (total)                18,114,103           -8.3%

Transfer Passengers               5,450,308           -8.2%

Flight Movements                      243,430           -8.6%

MTOW                                   7,255,079           -7.1%

Air cargo and trucking                 254,006           -5.2%

Air cargo                                   185,724           -0.8%

Trucking                                     68,283           -15.4%