Airport traffic up in January

More good news, this time from the airport sector, with ACI reporting that global airport passenger traffic was up six per cent in January this year, compared with the same month in 2009.

Even more impressive was the 25 per cent lift in freight.

ACI says that “the overall global passenger increase stems from a mix of international and domestic market surges”.

International passenger traffic grew strongly in Asia Pacific (up 11 per cent), Africa (up 13 per cent) and the Middle East (up 15 per cent); while the domestic markets were led by Asia Pacific (up nine per cent), Europe (up six per cent) and Latin America (up 11 per cent).

Freight growth figures are even more impressive, with Asia Pacific and the Middle East topping the results at +43 and +29 percent respectively.

ACI says that the industry “appears to be profiting from increasing stabilization of world production markets”.

Freight traffic was significantly up at several key hubs, including Bangkok (up 46 per cent), Hong Kong (up 43 per cent), Incheon (up 38 per cent), Shanghai (82 per cent), Sharjah (up 50 per cent), Singapore (up 21 per cent), Taipei (up 90 per cent) and Narita (up 45 per cent).

Maybe not cause for celebration yet, given the residual fragility in some parts of the global economy, but certainly enough positive detail to encourage a more confident approach to business activity through 2010.