Record passenger volume at Munich Airport: 34.5 million

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New passenger record despite difficult economic conditions

Total passenger volume at Munich Airport tops 34.5 million

Despite the difficult economic conditions, Munich Airport had yet another record-breaking year in 2008. More than 34.5 million passengers – a gain of nearly 2 percent over the previous year – used Bavaria's international aviation hub during the past year. With this result, Munich held on to seventh place among Europe's top ten airports, and also posted the second-highest growth rate, just behind Rome. In the global rankings Munich gained ground for the third consecutive year, advancing from 28th to 27th place. By comparison: When the airport first opened in 1992, Munich was 51st among airports around the world.

Munich Airport was one of the few major European hubs to increase its passenger volume in 2008. "Against the backdrop of the sharp economic downturn seen in the second half of last year, this is a very respectable result, with which we have once again significantly exceeded the average performance of German and European airports," said Dr. Michael Kerkloh, the CEO of FMG, the Munich Airport operating company, speaking at the annual press conference.

The increased traffic figures were also reflected in the airport’s business results: After depreciation and taxes, preliminary figures for the year just ended show after-tax earnings for FMG of approximately 48 million euros. This represents an increase of 3 million euros as compared with the previous year. For the first time since 2002, however, interest payments to the FMG shareholders must again be deducted from that amount. The total revenues of the operating company increased to a record amount of 826 million euros. Including income from all subsidiaries, the FMG Group had total revenues of more than 1 billion euros.

The dynamically expanding intercontinental traffic segment remains a key growth driver at the Munich hub. With more than 4.6 million passengers, long-haul traffic was up by nearly 5 percent. The biggest increases in this segment were seen on routes to the Far East, which saw a 14.6 percent rise in passengers. Passenger traffic within Europe was up by more than 2 percent to approximately 20 million, with the popular connections to Eastern Europe making the biggest contribution (11.5 percent).

The number of take-offs and landings increased slightly as compared with 2007 to 432,296. At the same time, the airlines operating in Munich flew larger aircraft than in the previous year, with the average maximum take-off weight increasing significantly from 63.7 to 66.1 tons. The cargo segment reported a decline: the combined total of airfreight and airmail amounted to just under 260,000 tons, a decrease of about 2 percent as compared with 2007.

In 2008 scheduled services were offered from Munich to 244 destinations in 71 countries. September 2008, with a total of 3,253,823 passengers, was the most successful month in Munich Airport’s history. Moreover, a new all-time single-day record was set on September 26, with 128,099 passengers arriving or departing. The share of connecting passengers in total traffic increased another percentage point in 2008 to 36 percent.

In view of the current slowdown in demand for air travel, Kerkloh reminded his audience of the noticeable dents in the traffic trend in the early 1970s, 1980s and 1990s and in the time following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, which were always followed by phases of strong growth. Kerkloh: "I am firmly convinced that this will not curb the long-term growth dynamic of Munich Airport."

The airport CEO went on to say that the expansion of Munich Airport – in particular the third runway – will secure the long-term development of the airport in line with demand. In addition, it will generate valuable economic effects for the region and far beyond. Kerkloh: "By 2020 we plan to invest more than 3 billion euros in the development of our airport. Because we are now taking an anticyclical approach and moving ahead with our major investment plans even during an economic downswing, we are particularly effective in bolstering the economy and the labour market."

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The complete press folder for the annual press conference can be downloaded at http://www.munich-airport.de/de/general ... /index.jsp