Air passenger transport - monthly statistics

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Data from October 2012. Most recent data: Further Eurostat information, Main tables and Database.

This article describes the recent monthly development of passenger transport by air in the European Union (EU), showing the recovery of air transport following the impact of the economic crisis and the effect of the Icelandic volcano eruption on air transport.

A distinction is made between national (domestic), intra- and extra-EU transport, and the article also looks at the importance of airports.

Figure 1: Evolution and share of EU-27 monthly passengers carried in 2011 and the first quarter of 2012*
(January=100)
Source: Eurostat (avia_paoc)
Figure 2: Evolution of EU-27 passengers carried in 2011 and the first quarter of 2012 (compared to the same month of the previous year)*
Source: Eurostat (avia_paoc)
Table 1: Thousand passengers carried per country: monthly data for 2011 and the first semester of 2012
Source: Eurostat (avia_paoc)
Table 2: Thousand passengers handled in top airports*: monthly data for 2011 and the first semester of 2012
Source: Eurostat (avia_paoa)

Contents

Main statistical findings

Evolution of air passenger transport at EU level

The decrease in passenger transport by air observed in 2008 was followed by first signs of recovery at the end of 2009 and during 2010. In the course of 2011, the upward trend of passenger transport by air was confirmed: at EU-27 level, 2011 showed an increase of 5.7 % compared with 2010.

During the first quarter of 2012, international intra-EU transport represented 42 % of all passengers at EU-27 level (excluding Italy), followed by extra-EU transport (39 %) and national transport (19 %).

The vulnerability of the air transport industry to unforeseen events is clearly reflected in the 2010/2011 growth in passenger transport. All months of 2011 show increases compared to the previous reference year (comprised between +0.8 % in November 2011 and +6.6 % in December 2011, with the sole exception of April 2011). The growth rate of +26.5 % observed for April 2011 clearly reflects the level of the impact of the Icelandic volcanic eruption on passenger transport by air in Europe in April 2010.

Air passenger transport at country level

Passenger transport at country level for the first months of 2012 shows a slowdown in the upward trend observed in 2011 at EU-27 level. Based on the preliminary data available, 12 Member States showed a decrease in passenger volumes in 2012 compared to 2011. Particularly remarkable is the decline for passenger transport in Slovakia (-14%) and Slovenia (-13%) on one side and the increase in Lithuania (23%) and Estonia (22%) on the other side.

Outside the EU-27, all the countries for which data are available show an increase for the first semester of 2012 compared to 2011 even though the level of the growth differs across countries. On one hand, the highest increase between 2011 and 2012 was registered in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (+19 %), and on the other hand the lowest growth was observed in Switzerland (+6 %).

Air passenger transport at airport level

At airport level, the impact of the economic crisis is clearly visible. The 2012 data show an upward trend for 19 of the 30 major European airports. Vienna registered the largest rise among the top-30 airports (+10 % between 2011 and 2012 for the periods available), contrasting with Greek and Spanish airports, representing 6 of the 9 airports for which a decrease is registered at the beginning of 2012.

Data sources and availability

2012 data

In Figure 1 and Figure 2, the estimate of the total transport (and the related year-to-year growth) for 2012 covers all EU Member States except Italy (from January to March) and Cyprus (March only).

Definition of "Passengers carried"

All passengers on a particular flight counted once only and not repeatedly on each individual stage of that flight. This excludes direct transit passengers.

Exclusion of double counting

The national transport (included in the total transport at country level) and the intra-EU transport aggregates (included in the total transport at EU level) have been calculated excluding double counting by taking into account only departure declarations.

Context

The content of this statistical article is based on data collected within the framework of the EU air transport statistics Regulation (EC) No 437/2003 on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of passengers, freight and mail by air.

The basic legal act was amended by:

Further Eurostat information

Publications

Main tables

Air transport (t_avia)
Air transport of passengers (ttr00012)
Air transport of goods (ttr00011)

Database

Air transport (avia)
Air transport measurement - passengers (avia_pa)
Air transport measurement - Detailed air passenger transport by reporting country and routes (avia_par)
Air transport measurement - Air transport measurement - freight and mail (avia_go)  

Dedicated section

Methodology / Metadata

Other information

External links

See also

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