Discount carriers prefer regional airports

The number of passengers arriving at or taking off from Dutch airports continues to grow. In the period 2003–2006, passenger throughput increased by 18 percent to nearly 49 million. The number of budget airline passengers in particular grew distinctly from 6.5 million in 2003 to 9.8 million in 2006.

Considerable increase price fighter airlines on regional airports

Lower landing fees and shorter turn-around times prompt budget airlines to prefer regional airports. The volume of budget airline passengers travelling to and from regional airports increased from 640 thousand in 2003 to 2.1 million in 2006.
Traditional airlines tended to avoid regional airports in this period. The amount of passengers travelling with traditional airlines through regional airports declined by 42 percent to 0.5 million.
Altogether, regional airports handled approximately 2.6 million passengers in 2006, an increase by 80 percent relative to 2003.

Passenger throughput regional airports

Eindhoven Airport reports most substantial increase

The most substantial increase was recorded at Eindhoven Airport. Last year, nearly 1.2 million passengers took off from and arrived at this airport, about three times as many as in 2003. For the first time, Eindhoven surpassed Rotterdam Airport, the largest regional airport so far. Rotterdam Airport saw a remarkable increase in the volume of passengers in 2004 (78 percent), but a decline to 1 million in 2006.

Passenger throughput regional airports by airport

Most price fighter airline passengers travel via Schiphol

In 2006, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport handled 46 million passengers, a 6 million increase relative to 2003. Last year, 78 percent of price fighter airline passengers (7.6 million persons) who travelled to and from Dutch airports arrived at or took off from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, an increase by 31 percent relative to 2003. The number of traditional airline passengers increased by 13 percent in this period.

Passenger throughput Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

Astrid Dohmen