Munich Airport posts new passenger record in 2008; maintains multi-billion euro investment plans – 04/02/09
Published: 04/02/09
Source: ©The Moodie Report
By Dermot Davitt
 |
Munich Airport: Europe's seventh biggest airport set a new record for passenger numbers in 2008
|
GERMANY. Munich Airport handled 35.4 million passengers in 2008, up by +2% on 2007, and a new annual record. And despite the challenging aviation environment, the company has pledged to maintain its planned €3 billion investment in the airport up to 2020.
With its 34.5 million passenger total, Munich is Europe’s seventh biggest airport by passenger volumes for 2008, just behind Rome. In the global rankings (ACI figures) Munich gained ground for the third consecutive year, advancing from 28th to 27th place. When the new Munich airport opened in 1992, it was 51st among airports around the world.
“Against the backdrop of the sharp economic downturn seen in the second half of last year, this is a very respectable result, with which we have once again significantly exceeded the average performance of German and European airports,” said Dr. Michael Kerkloh, CEO of FMG, Munich Airport’s operating company.
The fast expanding intercontinental traffic segment remains a key growth driver at the Munich hub. With more than 4.6 million passengers, long-haul traffic was up by nearly +5% in the year. The biggest increases were seen on routes to Asia Pacific, which saw a +14.6% rise in passengers. Passenger traffic within Europe was up by more than +2% to approximately 20 million, with traffic to Eastern Europe posting +11.5% growth.
September 2008, with a total of 3,253,823 passengers, was the most successful month in Munich Airport’s history. A new all-time single-day record was set on 26 September, with 128,099 passengers arriving or departing. The share of connecting passengers (within total traffic) increased by one percentage point in 2008 to 36%.
The increased traffic figures were also reflected in the airport’s preliminary results: After depreciation and taxes, earnings were €48 million, up by €3 million on 2007. Revenues from the Munich Airport operating company were €826 million, up by more than +4% on last year’s €794 million. Including income from all subsidiaries (among them retail subsidiary Eurotrade), the FMG Group had total revenues of more than €1billion, marginally ahead of last year’s €999 million. Around half of this came from non-aviation sources such as retail, rents and car parking.
 |
Munich Airport will continue to invest in expansion to meet demand, says CEO Michael Kerkloh
|
Looking ahead, Kerkloh said: “Many airlines [worldwide] have temporarily withdrawn capacity from the market, reduced departure frequencies on routes or closed them entirely. Against this backdrop 2009 will also be a difficult year for us, with decreases in traffic across the industry, and at Munich Airport as well.”
But he noted that falls in traffic in the early 1970s, 1980s and 1990s and following September 11, 2001, were always followed by phases of strong growth. Kerkloh said: “I am firmly convinced that this will not curb the long-term growth dynamic of Munich Airport.”
He said too that the expansion of Munich Airport – in particular the third runway – would secure the long-term development of the airport in line with demand.
Kerkloh said: "By 2020 we plan to invest more than €3 billion in the development of our airport. Because we are now taking an anti-cyclical approach and moving ahead with our major investment plans even during an economic downswing, we are particularly effective in bolstering the economy and the labour market."
MORE STORIES ON MUNICH AIRPORT
Munich Airport bucks worldwide trend by posting solid traffic growth in year to date – 09/10/08
Cosmetic Institute adds new dimension to Munich Airport’s diverse commercial offer – 31/07/08
Munich Airport and Eurotrade prepare for landmark opening of Cosmetic Institute treatment centre – 30/07/08
Munich Airport posts solid H1 passenger growth – 16/07/08
Print
Email