August ended the school holidays on a high note with +7.9% growth, i.e. 572,000 passengers. Direct international traffic represented 60% of traffic in Bordeaux. International destinations recorded an upturn of +9.1% compared to 2015, or 353,000 passengers during the month. National traffic also achieved very positive results with growth of 5.9% and 219,000 passengers. Low-cost activity remained the growth driver: +15% in relation to 2015 and 317,000 passengers.
These figures keep Bordeaux Airport at the top of the growth tables for large regional airports.
International traffic saw a +9.1% increase with 353,274 passengers.
Milan ranked first for growth with traffic soaring +45.8%. “Sunny” destinations featured prominently during this summer month: Madrid served by Iberia Express and Iberia (+39.6%), Barcelona with easyJet and Vueling (+36.5%) and Naples with Volotea (+20%). Northern Europe was not to be outdone, posting very positive results: Birmingham (+27.2%), Charleroi (+23.1%), Oslo (+20.7%), Dublin (18.5%) and Stockholm (+11.8%). In contrast, North Africa recorded a drop in passenger numbers for some destinations: Marrakech -3.5%, Tunis -13.5% and Oran -39.1%.
The Bordeaux-Montreal long-haul route was a big part of this success story, jumping +19.3%.
Traffic to international hubs was robust: London Gatwick (British Airways, easyJet) +9.4%, Lisbon (easyJet and TAP) +6.3% and Amsterdam (Air France/KLM) +5.5%. The Air France/KLM group hub, Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle, saw a 5% fall in traffic linked to lower supply this August; Istanbul was down -6.7% leading to an announcement by Turkish Airlines that the route will be temporarily suspended during the winter.
Domestic traffic achieved its best performance of the summer season with +6% and 219,000 passengers. Destinations in the South of France of course enjoyed tremendous success: Marseille (+28.1%), Nice (+14.3%) and Toulon (+11.1%). Corsica remained one of the favourite summer destinations: Figari, served by Hop! and Volotea (+30.1%) led the growth charts; Ajaccio remained the top destination in Corsica in terms of volume, with over 11,400 passengers during the month.
With respect to flights to Paris, the Orly shuttle boosted the upward trend (+9%; 51,700 passengers).
Low-cost activity continued to show very strong gains: +15% and 316,800 passengers (55% of traffic). The 3 major operators, easyJet, Volotea and Ryanair, obtained excellent results.
easyJet and Ryanair were up +16.4% and +16% respectively in relation to 2015. On the growth podium: Milan, Lyon and London Gatwick for easyJet; Charleroi and London Stansted for Ryanair.
Volotea remained the leader for the number of destinations available (21) and posted +14% since the start of the year.
August also afforded an opportunity to announce the arrival of a new airline and new destination for Bordeaux: AIR ARABIA with Fez from 3 December (2 flights a week).
15/09/2016
