Traffic rises in Asia as declines ease worldwide

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Latest figures for over 700 airports worldwide from Airports Council International (ACI) for March 2002 show passenger traffic down 4% and aircraft movements down 6% compared to the same period last year

For the first quarter of 2002, passenger traffic was down by 7% and movements by 6%

In March 2002 passenger traffic grew only in the Asia/Pacific region (+4.5%). The rest of the world showed continued, but less steep declines: Africa and the Middle East (-2.0% and -2.3% respectively), Europe (-3.6%), Latin America/Caribbean (-5.8%) and North America (-8.4%). In March, Beijing Capital was the world's fastest growing airport with a 23% year-on-year increase.

Airline moves to reduce capacity had an effect and aircraft movements contracted slightly in Asia/Pacific (-0.7%). Steeper declines were registered in the Middle East (-2.2%), Africa (-2.7%), Europe (-4.6%), Latin America/Caribbean (-7.4%) and North America (-8.0%).