Derry Airport Passenger Use Takes Off

Derry Airport Passenger Use Takes Off
Belfast Telegraph, UK

18 February 2004 


THE embattled City of Derry airport today announced a
significant boost in passenger numbers for 2003.

Passenger growth is up more than 6% according to the
latest statistics - representing an extra 13,000
people.

The number of passengers using the facility rose to
over 217,000 during 2003, an increase of some 6.2% on
2002.

Figures revealed an escalation of 5.9% on the number
of commercial passengers using the airport.

The British Airways Dublin route in particular has
made an impressive increase of 22% to over 29,500.

Ryanair's London Stansted flight remains the airport's
busiest route with 134,309 passengers using this route
alone in 2003.

Private and business passenger numbers increased by
20% to over 5,600.

Package holidays to sun destinations also showed an
increase with package holiday traffic rising to over
12,000.

Charter routes were also up with passengers on
miscellaneous charters expanding to over 4,800. 

Despite strong competition from other low cost
operators, the British Airways Glasgow route performed
well and serviced 15,700 passengers, an increase of
approximately 1,000 on 2002.

Chairman of the Airport Committee, Alderman William
Hay, said he was pleased that the airport was
continuing to grow.

"A recently released European study on the social and
economic benefits of airports highlighted the benefits
of having a regional airport as an economic engine for
the generation of tourism and regional development,"
he said.

"The continued growth of passenger numbers is very
encouraging for us."


 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dc/dcboard.php

*****************************************