AENA STATISTICS INDICATE 3.9% INCREASE IN PASSENGER THROUGHPUT

Menorca airport handled 2.69 million passengers last year

Rare guest. "Super Connie" touched down en-route from Basel on 30th September

International passenger numbers declined slightly whilst domestic traffic saw an 11.7% increase. Low-cost carriers expanded their presence and Air Berlin strengthened connections to Germany

frederik naumann.Sant Lluís/Flensburg

Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea (AENA) released their 2006 traffic statistics last week. These statistics cover 45 AENA-operated airports throughout Spain as well as the Ceuta Heliport. Once again, Madrid-Barajas has been Spain´s busiest airport with 45,530,010 passengers and 435,018 movements handled during 2006. Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca follow in second and third places. Menorca Airport is listed in 16th position in terms of passenger throughput and in 19th position in terms of movements. It ranks in 15th position in terms of cargo throughput.

A closer look at Menorca Airport´s 2006 statistics reveals several interesting developments. First, the airport has seen a 3.9% passenger throughput increase ­ the first increase in passenger volumes since 2001. Although the growth at Menorca Airport is lower than the increases recorded at the other Balearic airports ­ passenger volumes went up by 7.1% at Ibiza and by 5.5% at Palma. In total, Menorca Airport recorded 2,690,992 passengers during 2006, compared to 2,590,515 in 2005. The number of movements grew by 11.9% to a total of 32,920. Commercial flights accounted for 30,527 of these movements. Cargo volumes handled at the airport amounted to 3,686,591 kilograms (-3.7%) and mail throughput to 86,539 kilograms. The increase in passenger volumes has been entirely generated by domestic traffic. Passenger throughput on routes between Menorca and other Spanish airports increased by 11.7% and accounted for 47% of the total passenger throughput. International passenger volumes, on the contrary, saw a 2.89% decrease and accounted for 53% of the total throughput. The number of movements has increased both in domestic and international traffic. 21,199 domestic flight movements were recorded (+17.7% compared to 2005), international traffic accounted for 9,328 movements (+3.8%). Domestic flights thus accounted for 69.4% and international flights for 30.6% of all commercial movements. The striking fact that domestic flights accounted for nearly 70% of the movements but only for 47% of the passenger throughput has a simple explanation: international flights are merely operated with larger aeroplanes providing capacities significantly exceeding 100 seats. Many domestic flights, particularly the very important connections maintained by Air Nostrum (branding as Iberia Regional), are on the contrary operated with regional turboprop and turbofan aircraft providing capacity in the 50 to 90 seats region.

Menorca Airport has seen flights to 77 different airports during 2006, among them 19 domestic and 58 foreign destinations. Barcelona, Palma and Madrid were once again the most important domestic destinations whilst the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy accounted for the largest numbers of international passengers. Traffic at Menorca Airport continues to be highly seasonal with a peak between June and September. August was the busiest month of 2006, with 501,218 passengers and 5,475 movements recorded. The cargo throughput reached its climax in August as well, amounting to 428,144 kilograms. January was on the contrary last year´s weakest month with only 56,068 passengers and 1,261 movements. International traffic is particularly seasonal with connections reduced to a minimum during winter. For example, Menorca Airport recorded just 43 international flights with 2,115 passengers during February 2006. July, on the contrary, saw 1,883 international flight movements carrying 287,614 passengers. Low-cost airlines further increased their presence at Menorca Airport last year. Companies such as EasyJet, Vueling, Jet2.com or Lagun Air operated regular services to the island, merely during summer. Troubled Air Madrid launched a Madrid-Menorca service in early April. This airline, however, ceased operation in December and subsequently saw its licence being revoked by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Ministerio de Fomento.

Air Berlin significantly extended its operation to Menorca during last year. As from 4th May 2006, Germany´s second-biggest airline introduced twice-weekly inter-island flights linking Menorca with Palma de Mallorca, Air Berlin´s Balearic "hub airport". The new feeder service, operated on Thursdays and Sundays, is tailored to foreign tourists as well as to local residents. On a year-round basis, passengers may directly connect to and from Air Berlin´s international flights between Palma and 13 German airports as well as Vienna, Zurich, Amsterdam and London. Air Berlin´s new service has thus significantly improved connections between Menorca and the important German market, particularly during off-season. Traditionally, there has been a lack of winter connections between the island and Continental Europe. Charter airlines have so far provided direct connections between Menorca and German airports from early May to mid October only, and just once per week on Sundays. Air Berlin´s service through Palma makes travelling easier and more flexible, particularly for off-season tourists and residents who benefit from flights offered at prices similar to those of summertime charter flights. Wintertime traffic potential between Menorca and Mallorca remains nevertheless very limited, and Air Berlin has been reported to operate with an off-season passenger load factor of 60 to 65% on its Menorca-Palma route. However, occupancy rates might increase if Menorca succeeds with its attempts to prolong the tourist season and to strengthen winter tourism.

Operation at Menorca Airport has been smooth and safe throughout 2006 without any accidents or severe disruptions. However, the airport handled some prominent passengers and exceptional airplanes. Menorca´s most spectacular Œguest´ was probably a Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation which touched down en-route from Basel/Mulhouse at 13:45 hours on 30th September. This historic aircraft, delivered back in 1956, performed a private charter flight; it arrived with 34 Swiss passengers and a likewise Swiss crew. The smooth flight from Basel to Menorca took 2 hours 40 minutes. "Super Connie" was given a warm welcome by the airport´s staff and numerous spotters who tried to catch a glimpse of this rare aircraft, even as it departed back to Basel in the afternoon of 1st October.