Barcelona El Prat Airport transported 35.15 million passengers in 2012, breaking its own record

El Prat del Llobregat (ACN).- The number of people travelling through Catalonia’s main airport reached a new record last year, despite the economic recession. 35,145,176 people passed through Barcelona El Prat, a 2.2% increase compared to 2011. Besides, Madrid-Barajas, the Catalan airport’s main competitor, saw the number of its passengers drop by 9% to a total of 45.19 million people. In fact only 6 airports out of the 47 in the Spanish Airport Authority’s network (AENA) had a passenger increase over 2012. Barcelona’s improvement is due to the significant growth in international passengers passing through the Catalan airport, since those travelling within Spain dropped by 9.6%. Barcelona’s greatest increase was in the number of passengers arriving from or going to another EU state, which increased by 9.2%. In addition, people flying from or to outside the European Union increased by 8.9% and intercontinental passengers by 3.45%. The numbers are in line with Barcelona El Prat’s mid-term strategy to become the main airport in Europe offering short and medium-distance flights and attract a greater number of intercontinental flights in order to become one of Europe’s main hubs.

A better occupancy rate: more passengers with fewer flights

For the first time in its history, Barcelona El Prat Airport serviced 35 million passengers in one year. During 2012, 35,145,176 people travelled through the Catalan airport, a 2.2% increase compared to 2011, despite the economic recession and the bankruptcy of Spanair, which was based in Barcelona’s airport. However, the number of flight operations decreased by 4.3% compared to two years ago, with a total of 290,004 landings and takeoffs in 2012. This means that the occupancy rate increased, since there were fewer flights but more passengers were transported.

The number of passengers dropped in December

Despite the positive results for 2012 overall, December’s figures show a decrease compared to the same month in 2011, mainly due to the economic recession in Spain and to the general slowdown at a European level. During December, 2,190,115 passengers travelled through Barcelona El Prat, a 9.7% drop compared to 12 months ago. Furthermore, the number of operations also decreased. In December there were 19,253 landings and takeoffs at the Catalan airport, a 12.2% drop compared to the end of 2011.

Stagnation in goods transportation

Finally, during 2012, 96.52 million kilos of goods were transported through Barcelona El Prat, a 0.1% decrease compared to 2011. Considering the economic recession in 2012, the technical stagnation of goods transportation can be considered to be positive data. In December, 8.08 million kilos of goods passed through Catalonia’s main airport, a 0.3% increase compared to 12 months ago.

Madrid Barajas passenger figures dropped by 9%

In 2012, while Barcelona’s Airport grew by 2.2%, Madrid-Barajas saw its passenger figures drop by 9%. However, it continues to be the largest airport in Spain with 45.19 million passengers, as it concentrates most of Iberia’s international and particularly intercontinental flights. Looking at Madrid Barajas’ operations, the number decreased by 13.1% in 2012, with a total of 373,185 landings and takeoffs. Out of the 47 airports in the Spanish Airport Authority (AENA) only 6 of them saw their passenger figures increase, which included Barcelona. In addition, considering all AENA airports, the number of airport passengers decreased by 5%, with 194.2 million people travelling throughout 2012, split into 1.9 million operations (a 10.1% drop).