The Association of European Airlines (AEA) has today released its preliminary traffic figures for 2011, which indicate 7.1% growth in year-on-year passenger numbers.

Over the full year, Europe’s network airlines carried a total of 363 million passengers. This provisional figure, covering 31 of AEA’s 35 members, is 24 million up on 2010. Traffic (measured in RPKs) rose by 8%, but capacity growth (measured in ASKs) remained a step ahead at 8.9%. This slight shortfall in demand caused AEA’s average load factor to slip by 0.6 of a percentage point to 77.3%.

Based on this positive traffic performance, AEA expects its member airlines to post a collective €1.5 billion EBIT profit in 2011, up from €0.5 billion in 2010.

“There is much to encourage us in the 2011 figures. In times of austerity and financial turmoil, European citizens continue to vote for air travel in unprecedented numbers,” said AEA Secretary General Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus.

The 2010 baseline was depressed by several significant events, notably the closure of European airspace in May due to the perceived risk of volcanic ash contamination and airport closures in late 2010 as facilities failed to cope with the winter weather.

“Even after adjusting for the exceptional events of 2010, we still saw 6% underlying RPK growth. Unfortunately we cannot, and do not, expect this buoyancy to last. Air freight – a key barometer for the industry – has been slowing since May and we began to see passenger traffic cool down in the final quarter of 2011. Meanwhile, fuel costs remain cripplingly high and aviation continues to be a target for additional regulatory burdens, further impacting financial stability,” concluded Mr Schulte-Strathaus.

AEA press release 19 January 2012

The Association of European Airlines (AEA) has today named Bernard Gustin, Co-Chief Executive of Brussels Airlines, as its new Chairman for 2012.

During his year-long chairmanship, Bernard Gustin will act on behalf of AEA’s 35 airline members which contribute €86 billion to the European economy. He will chair the association’s board and represent AEA in high-level political meetings.

“Europe is bracing itself for a turbulent 2012, therefore it is more critical than ever to have a competitive and thriving European airline industry,” said Mr Gustin. “AEA’s members want to fuel the economic recovery. To achieve this, aviation must not be used as a regulatory playground, or as an austerity cash-cow.

“Our focus for the coming 12 months will be on removing inefficiency from the system and driving external costs down. As a key priority, we urgently need Member States to deliver on their Single European Sky promises.”

But as we enter 2012, the political focus is sadly dominated by tensions over aviation’s inclusion in the EU ETS – not on the launch of landmark Single European Sky reforms which will slash emissions by 12%, reduce delay times and cut airline operating costs.

“The ETS debate is like a volcano. When the tensions erupt, it is going to be extremely damaging for European air travel. A globally acceptable solution and a shift of focus from politics back to the environment is an absolute must for 2012,” said Mr Gustin.

Mr Gustin succeeds Virgin Atlantic Chief Executive Steve Ridgway, who expertly steered the association’s work during 2011.

AEA 16 January 2012