Air Traffic Up 2.3% Till Sept

The first half of 2002 saw a meagre 2.3 per cent increase in passenger traffic handled by the airports across the country as compared to 2001. However, the total passenger traffic in September 2002 increased 9.9 per cent as compared to the same month a year ago.

The APEX fare effect, though, seems to have worn off with domestic passenger traffic dropping 6 per cent between August and September 2002.

According to figures released by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the total number of passengers during April-September 2002 is 20.5 million as compared to 20 million in the same period in 2001. But aircraft movement at airports increased 8.4 per cent in the first half, which saw the movement of 2,71,790 aircraft.

 

There is a 16.7 per cent increase in cargo handled by the airports. They handled 49,107 tonnes of cargo during April-September 2002.

The passenger traffic scenario in September 2002 seemed rosier than in the same month last year, which was particularly bleak for the aviation industry because of the terrorist attacks in the US.

In September 2002, the international passenger traffic increased 10.7 per cent and domestic 9.6 per cent. The airports handled 1.1 million international passengers and 2.1 million domestic passengers.

Interestingly, in comparison to August 2002, September 2002 has seen a 7 per cent drop in passenger traffic handled by the airports.

The charm of the APEX fares seems to have waned with domestic traffic dropping by 1,48,000 passengers in September.

In September 2002, the airports handled 43,760 aircraft, which is a 7.8 per cent increase over the same month the previous year.

There has been a 13 per cent increase in cargo handled in September this year as compared to last year, with the airports handling 79,210 tonnes of cargo.