NEW Record - AMS Schiphol breaks 5 Million Pax in July 2011

[XYZ]

In July 2011 Amsterdam Airport Schiphol broke a new passenger record with well over 5 Million passengers using the airport in one month for the first time in its history.

- July 2011 - Pax 5.156.990 (+8.9% over July 2010 = 4.737.638 pax)
- July 2007 - Pax 4.925.757 (previous monthly record)

With a growth rate of +12% in PAX and +9.8% in movements thus far in 2011, AMS has seen more passengers & movements per month than Madrid Barajas (MAD pax 4.807.404 = -0.4% in July 2011). As a result, it looks very well possible that Amsterdam Schiphol will overtake Madrid Barajas again to regain 4th place in the European airport listing for passengers/year in 2011.

The growth is predominantly on European services (+12.3%) and is largely due to KLM's re-introduction of the 6th frequency to larger European destinations and higher frequencies to smaller destinations. As a result transfer traffic is up by 7.6%, while intercontinental traffic is up just 1.9%. The Netherlands O&D market has grown by 9.7% as a result of the abolishment of the aviation/environment tax.

Due the economic crisis, cargo traffic is flat with just 0.3% growth in July and 4.4% in 2011 thus far. This is likely to remain flat or even fall during the remainder of the year.

[MTOW]

Shall we reach the magic 50 million passengers mark this year???

Hopefully the current bad economic situation will not last that long, otherwise I don't see it happen this year.

Mike

[XYZ]

The UK CAA has now released the route data for July 2011, these figures indicate that three AMS routes have set new passenger records for a single month:

- AMS-ABZ-AMS = 27.328 pax. in July 2011 - old record was 26.749 pax. in October 2006
- AMS-EDI-AMS = 53.277 pax. in July 2011 - old record was 52.727 pax. in July 2007
- AMS-STN-AMS = 30.496 pax. in July 2011 - old record was 29.352 pax. in May 2011

The UK-AMS-UK pax. market is up by 11% over the first 7 months in 2011.

[XYZ]

During August 2011, AMS Schiphol again broke 5 million passengers/month, however there were fewer passengers than in July:

- July 2011 = 5.150.896 pax. 4.730.788 (pax in July 2010)
- August 2011 = 5.057.815 pax. 4.642.726 (pax in August 2010)

August movements were higher than in July 2011, but these are below the July 2007 record of 40.464 movements/month:

- July 2011 = 39.556 a/c movements
- August 2011 = 39.631 a/c movements

It looks unlikely Schiphol will pass the 50 million pax/year mark in 2011, current predictions are for 49,5 million in 2011.

[XYZ]

The August traffic data for Madrid Barajas indicate that it is now very likely that AMS Schiphol will overtake Madrid as the fourth passenger airport of Europe next month!

August 2011 Passenger numbers:
- MAD 4.775.026 pax (-1.1% versus 2010)
- AMS 5.064.229 pax (+8.9% versus 2010)

Year-to-date 2011 (Jan.-Aug. 2011)
- MAD 33.576.636 pax
- AMS 33.330.854 pax

It is likely that AMS will outperform MAD in September & October, but not in November & December when MAD traditionally is stronger than AMS. So it all depends on how passenger traffic develops at both airports in these difficult economic times, whether AMS will reclaim 4th position in European passenger traffic in 2011 or not!

Time to place your bets!

[XYZ]

AMS Schiphol has released the September 2011 transport statistics today, these show a 10,2% growth in passenger numbers, a growth of 8,7% in aircraft movements and a fall of -6% in cargo for the month of September.

The very positive growth in passenger numbers during September creates a very interesting situation for the airport. If the months of October, November and December continue to see an average growth of 9% in passenger numbers (which is not entirely hypothetical based on particularly KLM's planned increase in European & long-haul production, but also the new flight schedules of other airlines), than AMS would indeed (if only just) pass the 50 Million passenger milestone late in December 2011.

Interestingly Madrid Barajas, which saw falling pax. demand during the summer months, has also seen growth in pax. of 1,2% during September. If MAD witnesses similar growth of 1,2% over the last three months of 2011, the airport is likely to stay ahead of AMS as the 4th airport of Europe. If MAD continues to see level or negative pax. demand, AMS may well overtake MAD again as the 4th airport in Europe!!!

So watch this space, it is going to be a very interesting statistics race over the next 3 months.

[XYZ]

Schiphol Airport has released the October 2011 transport data, which indicate the following:

- PASSENGERS:
October 2011 - versus - October 2010
4.609.355 - versus - 4.314.488 + 6,8%

- MOVEMENTS:
October 2011 - versus - October 2010
38.066 - versus - 35.453 + 7,4%

- FREIGHT:
October 2011 - versus - October 2010
135.804 - versus - 141.156 - 3,8%

The growth in October has been below the 9% needed to reach 50 Million pax/annum in 2011, so it it is now very unlikely that this record will be reached this year. Current predictions are around 49.500.000 pax in 2011.

Madrid Barajas has not yet released its October data, so it is a wait and see whether or not AMS will be able to pass MAD for 4th place in Europe.

[XYZ]

In October 2011, AMS reclaims the title 4th Passenger Airport of Europe from MAD.

October 2011:
- AMS 4.609.355 pax = +6,8%
- MAD 4.308.154 pax = -3,5%

- AMS No. of Pax. Year-to-date: 42.566.442 = Jan-Oct 2011
- MAD No. of Pax. Year-to-date: 42.400.979 = Jan-Oct 2011

However November & December will determine full year 2011 figures. MAD handled more pax than AMS in November & December 2010. Yet in October 2011 MAD saw passengers fall by -3,5% while AMS grew by +6,8%. If this growth difference also happens in November & December, AMS could reclaim its 4th position for the full year.

Amsterdam - vs - Madrid in 2010:
Nov. 3.508.154 - vs - 3 871 293
Dec. 3.236.641 - vs - 3 601 350

[jfaltena]

Guess that places 1 till 3 are being held by CDG, FRA and LHR (in random order) ?

[B767-300ER]

Correct

[B767-300ER]

Small addition
1) LHR
2) CDG
3) FRA

[XYZ]

For those Scramble readers who are interested in the aviation industry, herewith an indication of current market conditions for the airlines in November 2011:

Delta Airlines reported that the no. of passengers carried is down 11% across the Atlantic in November 2011:

- PAX = November 2011: 2,644,066 - versus - November 2010: 2,970,184 pax (-11.0%)
- ASM = November 2011: 3,366,851 - versus - November 2010: 3,884,293 asm (-13.3%)
- loadfactor = November 2011: 78.5% - versus - November 2010: 76.5% lf (+2.0%)

[ehusmann]

I for one am interested in these numbers (as well as the AMS traffic numbers you have been posting), so thanks for that.

But from what you mention, I find the last number the most interesting. The pax numbers are down, but the loadfactor is up. That must of course mean a great reduction in seats. Now what I would be interested in as well, but I doubt anyone has a view on that, is the profitability across the Atlantic. Recently I have seen excellent prices for flights that I regularly take, some 20% to 30% lower than last year. Which in my mind means airlines are lowering their prices to fill their seats, reducing profitability.

Erwin

[XYZ]

The November 2011 data are in!!

In November 2011, AMS maintained the title 4th Passenger Airport of Europe above MAD.

November 2011:
- AMS 3.588.218 pax = +2,1%
- MAD 3.536.020 pax = -8,1%

- AMS No. of Pax. Year-to-date: 46.215.649 = Jan-Nov 2011
- MAD No. of Pax. Year-to-date: 45.936.999 = Jan-Nov 2011

Difference between AMS & MAD : 278.650 pax. = Jan-Nov. 2011

December will determine full year 2011 figures. MAD handled 358.145 more pax than AMS in December 2010. Yet in November 2011 AMS turned 350.000 pax (2010) below MAD, into +50.000 pax above MAD. If this difference continues in December, AMS will reclaim its 4th position for all of 2011.

It has become near impossible for AMS to pass the 50 Million pax in 2011, estimates are about 49.458.000 pax.

[MTOW]

Quick calculation: AMS needs 3.784.351 passengers in December to reach the 50 million mark.
December 2010 AMS handled 3.243.205 pax.