Page 49 - Ath Airport Profile
P. 49
47
In 2009, the demographic characteristics of the penetration of travel agents. However, the
passengers travelling through Athens International average booking period remained unchanged
Airport were very close to those in the previous at 33 days prior to departure. In contrary to
year. The slight majority of male passengers (55%) e-booking, electronic check-in was still at a
stayed unchanged, with the age of the passengers rather low level (9%), with conventional check-
standing at 39 years old on average. The high in being the top method by 90%. Traditionally,
education level continues to be one of the main foreigners have been more familiar with the
characteristics of AIA’s passengers, with 73% electronic services. However this year, Greeks
holding a college/university degree. presented 46% growth in electronic bookings
For the second consecutive year, Greek residents and their penetration climbed from 24% to 35%.
-estimated to almost 4.1 million passengers- saved It is obvious however, that Greeks are more late
AIA’s traffic from traffic meltdown. Domestically, bookers (20 days), since they reserved their ticket
Greek leisure traffic demonstrated a significant approximately 20 days later than the foreigners
growth of 14%, while the stable volume of the (42 days).
specific group travelling abroad was the key factor The increasing trend at the transfer product of
that prevented AIA from experiencing an even Athens International Airport during the last few
worse effect coming from the international arena. years was interrupted in 2009, with the share
On the other hand, foreigners experienced a of transfers amounting to 23% (24% in 2008)
noteworthy decline of 7%. The respective group and the volume estimated at almost 3.7 milllion
of passengers that reached the 3.9 million this passengers. Amongst transfer passengers, the
year, indicated a noteworthy negative course on domestic to international and vice versa traffic
business travelling (-12%) that strongly affected dominated with a share of 73%, stealing three
the international market. In terms of residence percentage points from the international to
country, passengers originating from US remained international transfer flow which indicated a
the highest volume (460,000) regardless of their drop this year. Thessaloniki remained the top
significant decrease (-9%), followed by the British destination for passengers travelling to domestic
(-11%), French (3%), German (-5%) and Italian destinations via Athens. However, the Cretan
(-10%) passengers. Focusing on passenger mix, destinations seemed to be preferred from transfer
the Greeks living in Greece overtook by 4 passengers, with Heraklion (14%) and Chania
percentage points foreigners living abroad, (10%) standing second and third respectively,
while the immigrants’ and the emigrants’ followed by Rhodes (9%) at the fourth ranking
share remained at the same level with 2008. position. Amongst transfer passengers
In terms of trip purpose, it is important to mention travelling to international destinations the
that business traffic suffered a lot (-5%), most ranking order remained the same with last
probably due to the cutting of travelling budget year with Italy coming first at 14%, followed by
by the enterprises. The main reason for business Germany and Cyprus at 9%.
travel was to attend a meeting (56%), with Despite the overall capacity growth of
conferences coming next at 11%. As per leisure destinations and frequencies to/from Athens
traffic, this remained at similar level (5.5 million International Airport, the indirect traffic share
pax) compared to 2008, and still holds the largest experienced an increase of two percentage
share of AIA’s traffic, with 7 out of 10 passengers points in 2009. This was mainly due to the fact
travelling for personal reasons through AIA. that frequency and capacity increases were
Amongst leisure traffic, the main reason for flying observed mainly in the domestic sector, whereas
was tourism (60%), which presented however an internationally a decline in the offered services was
important drop when compared to the second observed, with North America and Far East suffering
most popular reason which was Visiting Friends the most. In Western Europe the volume of indirect
and Relatives (31%), and grew considerably. More traffic surpassed the 1 million with a growth of 4%,
specifically, foreign holidaymakers accounted for while the top indirect destinations were Stockholm,
1.9 million tourists, experiencing an important Hamburg and Paris. Eastern Europe also experienced
decline of 11% in volume. Greek leisure traffic an increase of indirect traffic (+5%), with St.
was estimated at 2.5 million passengers, Petersburg, Warsaw and Prague acquiring the top
indicating an increase of 7%, mostly deriving by positions. North America -still the region with the
Greek passengers travelling for personal reasons highest indirect share (70%) - indicated a decrease
to domestic destinations. of 8% in volume. However, New York showed an
The rapid growth of electronic ticket booking is increase and gained the top spot in the indirect
an important characteristic over the last years. American destinations list with approximately
For the first time in Athens International Airport 63,000 passengers. Far East (-3%) and Middle East
record, e-booking share (43%) was equivalent to (-16%) suffered from a decrease of indirect traffic,
the later due to the enhanced presence of Middle
Eastern carriers in 2009 in the Athens market.
In 2009, the demographic characteristics of the penetration of travel agents. However, the
passengers travelling through Athens International average booking period remained unchanged
Airport were very close to those in the previous at 33 days prior to departure. In contrary to
year. The slight majority of male passengers (55%) e-booking, electronic check-in was still at a
stayed unchanged, with the age of the passengers rather low level (9%), with conventional check-
standing at 39 years old on average. The high in being the top method by 90%. Traditionally,
education level continues to be one of the main foreigners have been more familiar with the
characteristics of AIA’s passengers, with 73% electronic services. However this year, Greeks
holding a college/university degree. presented 46% growth in electronic bookings
For the second consecutive year, Greek residents and their penetration climbed from 24% to 35%.
-estimated to almost 4.1 million passengers- saved It is obvious however, that Greeks are more late
AIA’s traffic from traffic meltdown. Domestically, bookers (20 days), since they reserved their ticket
Greek leisure traffic demonstrated a significant approximately 20 days later than the foreigners
growth of 14%, while the stable volume of the (42 days).
specific group travelling abroad was the key factor The increasing trend at the transfer product of
that prevented AIA from experiencing an even Athens International Airport during the last few
worse effect coming from the international arena. years was interrupted in 2009, with the share
On the other hand, foreigners experienced a of transfers amounting to 23% (24% in 2008)
noteworthy decline of 7%. The respective group and the volume estimated at almost 3.7 milllion
of passengers that reached the 3.9 million this passengers. Amongst transfer passengers, the
year, indicated a noteworthy negative course on domestic to international and vice versa traffic
business travelling (-12%) that strongly affected dominated with a share of 73%, stealing three
the international market. In terms of residence percentage points from the international to
country, passengers originating from US remained international transfer flow which indicated a
the highest volume (460,000) regardless of their drop this year. Thessaloniki remained the top
significant decrease (-9%), followed by the British destination for passengers travelling to domestic
(-11%), French (3%), German (-5%) and Italian destinations via Athens. However, the Cretan
(-10%) passengers. Focusing on passenger mix, destinations seemed to be preferred from transfer
the Greeks living in Greece overtook by 4 passengers, with Heraklion (14%) and Chania
percentage points foreigners living abroad, (10%) standing second and third respectively,
while the immigrants’ and the emigrants’ followed by Rhodes (9%) at the fourth ranking
share remained at the same level with 2008. position. Amongst transfer passengers
In terms of trip purpose, it is important to mention travelling to international destinations the
that business traffic suffered a lot (-5%), most ranking order remained the same with last
probably due to the cutting of travelling budget year with Italy coming first at 14%, followed by
by the enterprises. The main reason for business Germany and Cyprus at 9%.
travel was to attend a meeting (56%), with Despite the overall capacity growth of
conferences coming next at 11%. As per leisure destinations and frequencies to/from Athens
traffic, this remained at similar level (5.5 million International Airport, the indirect traffic share
pax) compared to 2008, and still holds the largest experienced an increase of two percentage
share of AIA’s traffic, with 7 out of 10 passengers points in 2009. This was mainly due to the fact
travelling for personal reasons through AIA. that frequency and capacity increases were
Amongst leisure traffic, the main reason for flying observed mainly in the domestic sector, whereas
was tourism (60%), which presented however an internationally a decline in the offered services was
important drop when compared to the second observed, with North America and Far East suffering
most popular reason which was Visiting Friends the most. In Western Europe the volume of indirect
and Relatives (31%), and grew considerably. More traffic surpassed the 1 million with a growth of 4%,
specifically, foreign holidaymakers accounted for while the top indirect destinations were Stockholm,
1.9 million tourists, experiencing an important Hamburg and Paris. Eastern Europe also experienced
decline of 11% in volume. Greek leisure traffic an increase of indirect traffic (+5%), with St.
was estimated at 2.5 million passengers, Petersburg, Warsaw and Prague acquiring the top
indicating an increase of 7%, mostly deriving by positions. North America -still the region with the
Greek passengers travelling for personal reasons highest indirect share (70%) - indicated a decrease
to domestic destinations. of 8% in volume. However, New York showed an
The rapid growth of electronic ticket booking is increase and gained the top spot in the indirect
an important characteristic over the last years. American destinations list with approximately
For the first time in Athens International Airport 63,000 passengers. Far East (-3%) and Middle East
record, e-booking share (43%) was equivalent to (-16%) suffered from a decrease of indirect traffic,
the later due to the enhanced presence of Middle
Eastern carriers in 2009 in the Athens market.
