Belgocontrol: slight traffic decrease in August 2009

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Belgocontrol, the autonomous public company in charge of the safety of air navigation in the Belgian civil airspace and at the Belgian public airports, presents its results for the month of August 2009 with respect to the controlled movements at Brussels National Airport as well as at the regional airports and for overflights.
In August 2009 Belgocontrol managed a total of 99,431 movements, or almost a status quo (a decrease of 152 movements, or -0.15%) compared to the same month of last year (99,583 movements).

Brussels Airport
19,574 movements were recorded in August 2009, representing a decrease of 5.40 % movements compared to the same month of 2008 (20,691 movements). However it should be mentioned that in August 2008, because of the luggage handlers’ strike actions, air traffic was disrupted during three days, which renders comparison difficult.

Air traffic controlled by CANAC

The CANAC centre manages all movements in the controlled civil airspace above Belgium, from ground level to flight level 245, and above the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, between flight levels 135 and 245.

CANAC controlled 47,539 movements in August 2009, which is a decrease of -4.60 % compared to the same period last year (49,829 movements).

The regional airports

In August 2009, the four regional airports together recorded a total of 32,318 movements, in comparison with 29,063 movements in August 2008, or an increase of 3,255 movements (+11.20 %). This increase is particularly the result of the growth in activities of the flight schools that are present at three out of the four regional airports (Antwerp, Charleroi and Ostend) and for Charleroi thanks to the development of the « low-cost » activity.

The total number of « regional » IFR flights, which was 9,971 movements in August 2008, increased by 1,090 movements or +10.93 % and reached 11,061 movements in August 2009. The IFR flights are increasing at Charleroi and Ostend but are decreasing at Antwerp and Liege.

The number of VFR flights increases from 19,092 movements in August 2008 to 21,257 movements for the same month of this year, or an increase of 2,165 units (11.34 %).

Regarding the total number of movements, Charleroi ranks first (10,318) followed by Ostend (10,162), Antwerp (7,804) and Liege (4,034).

As regards the number of IFR movements, the ranking looks different. Charleroi is in pole position (4,433) followed by Liege (2,449) Ostend (2,428) and Antwerp (1,751).

We remind you that in Liege, Belgocontrol assures the air traffic control only at night during the week and H24 during weekends. The movements controlled by the military by day during the week are therefore not included in our statistics.

At Antwerp-Deurne 7,804 movements (1,751 IFR and 6,053 VFR) were registered in August 2009. This means an increase of 18.80 % compared to the same period in 2008, when 6,569 movements (1,781 IFR and 4,788 VFR) were recorded. There is a slight decrease in the number of IFR flights (- 1.68 %) but an increase in the number of VFR flights (26.42 %).

Charleroi-Brussels South registered 10,318 movements (4,433 IFR and 5,885 VFR) in August 2009, or an increase of 19.59 % compared to the same period of 2008, when 8,628 movements (3,667 IFR and 4,961 VFR) were recorded. The number of IFR increases (+20.89 %) as well as the number of VFR (+18.63 %).

At Liege-Bierset 4,034 movements (2,449 IFR and 1,585 VFR) were registered in August 2009: a decrease of 20.64 % compared to the 5,083 movements (2,808 IFR and 2,275 VFR) that were recorded the previous year. There is a decrease in the number of IFR by 12.78 % and in the number of VFR by 30.33 %.

Ostend-Bruges recorded 10,162 movements (2,428 IFR and 7,734 VFR) in August 2009, or an increase by 15.70 % compared to the 8,783 movements (1,715 IFR and 7,068 VFR) in August 2008. The number of IFR flights increased by 41.57 % as did the number of VFR flights by 9.42 %.

Belgocontrol 18.09.2009