Zürich Airport has reported passenger traffic up 29.8% in April to just over 2m passengers, while year-to-date passenger numbers grew by 10.5%. At the same time, total net sales to consumers rose by 12.2% in April to Swf.39.5m ($44.21m).

Airport management said: “The significant increase in passenger numbers has to be seen in the context of the volcanic eruption in Iceland in April 2010 and the consequential closure of Zürich Airport from April 16 (9.30pm) until April 20 (8.00am) and respectively the closure of major parts of European air space as of April 15, 2010.”

Originating or departing local passengers from Zürich increased by 29.0% to 1,331,394 compared to previous April (YTD +11.7%), while transfer passengers grew by 31.6% to 682,648 in April (YTD +8.5%). 

The current low-cost passenger market share stands at 10.9% (YTD 10.5%), showing an increase in passenger figures of 39.4% (YTD +16.3%) versus the previous year.

SALES UP 12.2% TO $44.21M
Total net sales to consumers rose 12.2% to Swf.39.5m ($44.21m) during April, while turnover per departing passenger in April reached Swf. 39.10 ($43.77), which is 13.5% lower than last year. 

< In the year-to-date to April, total turnover rose by 0.8% to Swf.149.2m ($167m) and turnover per departing passenger decreased by 8.8% to Swf.41.40 ($46.35). Airport management said that following the volcanic eruption in 2010 and the general disruption cause to air traffic in Europe, comparisons with last year, ‘especially of turnover per departing passenger’, are not meaningful.