40% of Spanish traffic to the Middle East and Asia leaves from Barcelona

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20.1% passenger growth in the first nine months, driven by the boom in European traffic (+27.0%).

- Connecting traffic continues to rise and has already reached 8.2% of total airport passengers.

- Traffic with the Middle East surpasses 30.7%, compared to 39.0% of Spanish traffic. Barcelona already represents 40% of Spanish traffic with the Middle East and Asia- Oceania.

During the third quarter (July to September) Barcelona airport recorded a growth of 19.4%. This fact places growth during the first nine months of the year at 20.1% and total passenger count at 26,443,415. Throughout this year, the airport has repeatedly surpassed its own monthly passenger records. Indeed, counting the month of October, Barcelona-el Prat airport has already surpassed the total number of passengers for 2010.

This process is driven by a growth in European routes (+27.0%) during the first nine months of the year, caused largely by a rise in European tourist passengers due to the fact that the Arab Spring has caused a considerable drop in European passengers travelling to the countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean.

As far as airlines are concerned, the 4 large companies in Barcelona (Vueling, Spanair, Ryanair and Easyjet) have grown. Iberia, Air Nostrum and Air Europa are the only large companies at the airport to have lost passengers in the first nine months of the year.

Ryanair, one year after beginning to operate out of Barcelona, has accumulated a 53.7% rise in number of passengers at the airport and has already positioned itself as the third company in Barcelona.

Connectivity at the airport continues to grow, and connecting traffic alreadyrepresents 8.2% of total airport traffic, when only a year ago this percentage was 6.5%.

Intercontinental traffic grows and routes are consolidated

The number of intercontinental passengers out of Barcelona continues to rise and already represents 29.6% of total Spanish intercontinental traffic (when a year ago this percentage was 27.9%). Counting all markets, the total intercontinental passenger count from Barcelona (both direct and indirect) grew 4.4% during the period comprising January – September 2011.

Asian and American intercontinental markets are growing once again, whereas the number of passengers travelling to Israel (the main Middle East destination) and to countries in North Africa has decreased since March, shortly after the Arab Spring began.

The growth of American markets is especially relevant given its impasse and slight drop in 2010.

Finally, in a year, Barcelona has gone from representing 30.7% of Spanish traffic with the Middle East to 39.0%. This fact is particularly relevant since the total traffic from Barcelona to the area has dropped slightly (2.2%). Barcelona already represents 40% of Spanish traffic with the Middle East and Asia-Oceania.

Source: Barcelona Chamber of Commerce – Gestió i Promoció Aeroportuària, SA.