Effects recession on air transport sector diminishing

The volume of passengers and cargo shipped through Dutch airports declined further in the third quarter of 2009 relative to one year previously, but the decline slowed down compared to the first and second quarter of 2009. The economic crisis has had a negative impact on the air transport sector since the third quarter of 2008.

More passengers travel to and from Eindhoven Airport

Altogether, 14 million passengers arrived and departed in the third quarter of last year, a decrease by 6 percent relative to the same period in 2008. In the first and second quarter, the number of air passengers still declined by 13 and 10 percent respectively, but in the third quarter, Eindhoven Airport achieved a 9 percent growth.

Slump in air cargo transport continues

Nearly 340 thousand tons of cargo were handled on Dutch airports in the third quarter of 2009, a decline by 15 percent relative to one year previously. With more than 25 percent, the decline in the first two quarters was even more dramatic.  Transport of goods to and from China, the Netherlands’ most important in air freight partner, slumped by no less than 43 percent in the first quarter. In the third quarter, the volume of goods shipped by air to and from China dropped by 11 percent.

Air transport to and from Dutch airports

Wick Schaafstra