Europe’s airports register a cargo decline for the first time in three years

The slowdown in cargo demand growth began to bite at European airports in November as hubs in the region recorded a decline in volumes for the first time in three years.
The latest statistics from Airports Council International (ACI) Europe show that the region’s airports recorded a year-on-year decline in cargo traffic of 1.4% in November.
Traffic was down by 2.1% at European Union (EU) airports during the month while those outside the EU noted a 3.6% increase.
Over the first 11 months of the year, cargo traffic is 2.1% ahead of 2017 levels. The outlook for cargo was bleak, the airport group said.
ACI Europe director general Olivier Jankovec said: “We are facing a Eurozone close to stagnation with business confidence now at a four-year low, coupled with global growth losing momentum in a synchronised way and a slowdown in trade.
“For EU airports, a no-deal Brexit is the most immediate risk. We are faced with the prospect of a capacity freeze on all UK-EU27 air routes, the modalities of which still need to be defined.
“If confirmed, UK airports would of course be the hardest hit, but many airports across the EU27 would also suffer – especially in Ireland and Spain, as well as smaller regional airports elsewhere that depend on UK traffic.” 
Looking at individual airport performance, Europe’s largest cargo hub Frankfurt registered a 1.7% year-on-year decline in November to 185,985 tonnes, at Paris CDG there was a 5% decline and London Heathrow registered a 10.4% slide on a year earlier.
Over the first 11 months, Frankfurt is 0.7% down on the same period in 2017, Paris CDG is 1.4% behind and Heathrow is 0.1% down.
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