Airports data points to economic recovery

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Airports Council International (ACI) results for July from 750 airports worldwide showed cargo traffic - usually a sign of growing economic activity - rising 9% over July 2001

However passenger confidence and traffic volumes were still down 5% compared to a year ago. For the first seven months of 2002, passenger traffic was down 6% and cargo volumes rose 1% said ACI.

In July 2002, passenger traffic rose by 2.6% in the Middle East and by 0.7% in Asia/Pacific. It declined in Europe (-4.0%), Latin America/Caribbean (-5.0%), Africa (-6.9%) and North America (-8.1%). Only five of the world's 30 busiest airports posted modest increases in passenger traffic: Tokyo Narita (+7%) Hong Kong and Beijing (both +5%), Tokyo Haneda (+2%) and Amsterdam Schiphol (+1%). Shanghai Pudong airport posted the biggest increase for passenger traffic and cargo volumes rose by 82%.