Irish Aviation Authority: Traffic movements for Jul-2010

This continues a positive trend during 2010 with enroute traffic movements also showing growth of +5.1% in March 2010 and +1.6% in June 2010.

This trend of growth has also been mirrored in the analysis of North Atlantic Communications flights (Europe /US Flights) , which saw growth of +1% in March, +0.8% in June and +1.3% in July 2010.

While commercial terminal traffic at the airports continues to decline against comparable figures in 2009, the rate of decline during 2010 has continued to recede during July 2010.

The traffic growth rates for the three State airports, in July 2010, are as follows:

• Commercial terminal flights at Dublin were down by -0.7%
• Commercial terminal flights at Cork were down -3.6%
• Commercial terminal flights at Shannon were down -28%

For the seven month period, January 2010 to July 2010, compared to 2009:

1. Over-flights were down -2.1%

2. North Atlantic Communication flights were down -4.3%

Enroute overflights and North Atlantic Communications Flights could have seen positive growth for the seven months ended 31st July 2010, if the eruption of the Icelandic Volcano had not occurred, or had such a severe impact on these traffic figures during the months of April and May 2010.

3. Commercial terminal flights at Dublin were down -12.9%

4. Commercial terminal flights at Cork were down -10.5%

5. Commercial terminal flights at Shannon were down -36.9%

The latest available traffic forecast from EUROCONTROL estimate that European traffic will experience a growth rate of +0.8% for 2010, however, these forecast will be revised in September 2010, when more information is available.