Macquarie Airports (MAp) has reported that Sydney, Copenhagen and Brussels airports were all in growth during January 2010, with Sydney showing an 11.5% increase in international passengers, Copenhagen up +6.3% and Brussels ahead by +1.8%.

The bottom line numbers showed Sydney handled 1.097m international passengers in January, an 11.5% increase versus January 2009. Just as significantly, Sydney Airport saw its international traffic grow by +2.5% to 10.6m passengers between February 2009 and the end of January 2010.

January was also notable as the third month where Sydney exceeded 3m total passengers, following similar performances in October and December 2009.

BRUSSELS AIRPORT
By contrast, intra-EU traffic at Brussels Airport fell by -1.7% to 610,000 in January, while non-EU traffic rose by 7.6% to 414,000. Aggregated together, international traffic grew by +1.8%.

This number would have been higher but for unusually high snowfalls during the first month of the year.

COPENHAGEN AIRPORT
Last, but not least, Copenhagen Airport handled 892,000 international passengers in January (+6.3%), with an additional 367,000 transfer passengers (-2.2%). MAp said it was pleased that this was the third consecutive month of growth.

MAp Ceo Ms Kerrie Mather, said: ‘This is a pleasing set of traffic results to begin 2010. We have now returned to growth across the portfolio, and prospects for the coming year are positive with a number of new routes already having been announced.

‘Sydney Airport continues to deliver a strong traffic performance, with a record number of international passengers. The 11.5% increase in international passengers is great news given the significant investment in the redevelopment of the International Terminal, which is nearing completion. The result was also achieved despite the later timing of Chinese New Year which would have negatively impacted January traffic, but should benefit the February numbers.’

‘MAp also welcomes the new air services agreements with China and the UAE, which will accommodate the forecast growth in long-haul services to two of Sydney's top ten international destinations.

GOOD RECOVERY
‘Copenhagen Airport maintained its recent growth, driven by an O&D traffic increase of 8.8%, the strongest growth since February 2008. Encouragingly, Cimber Sterling has announced a number of new destinations and increased frequencies that will take effect during the first half of 2010.

?These include routes to Madrid, Sofia, Bordeaux and Corsica, and the first scheduled flight from Denmark to Antalya in Turkey. The new services will help to further strengthen Copenhagen Airport's position as the primary Scandinavian hub.

‘Brussels Airport saw a return to growth this month, despite ongoing disruptions due to heavy snowfall. Traffic development has already accelerated in the early stages of 2010. New long-haul capacity has been announced by Brussels Airlines, Middle East Airlines and Hainan Airlines, with both Middle East and Hainan offering new destinations.

‘Leisure traffic also looks set to benefit from new capacity this year, with Thomas Cook and Turkish operator, Corendon Airlines, announcing expansions at the airport,’ said Mather.