AIA Reports Positive Q1 Figures

Athens International Airport last month reported improved passenger traffic and air flight figures.

Despite difficulties the air transport industry is facing due to the crisis, Athens International Airport (AIA) Eleftherios Venizelos last month reported improved passenger traffic and air flight figures.

According to AIA, 3.17 million passengers and 44.6 thousand flights passed through the airport during the January-March 2010 period, an increase of 10.4 percent and 5.2 percent respectively, compared with last year.

The airport ranked first among major European airports in terms of flights (European average was -2.6 percent) and second on passenger traffic (European average was +3 percent).

The airport underlined that both domestic and international markets enjoyed dynamic growth during the first three months of the year (13 percent and nine percent respectively).

The highest increase of domestic passengers was in January (18.8 percent), while traffic of international passengers reached its peak in March (12.3 percent).

In addition, AIA said that during the January-March 2010 period, the Middle East (19 percent), Western Europe (10.3 percent), Eastern Europe (9.6 percent) and Asia (6.5 percent) recorded the biggest percentage growth rates in geographical distribution.