Glasgow among Europe’s fastest-growing airports

GLASGOW Airport was one of the fastest-growing in Europe during the first half of the year, according to new figures.

Passenger growth puts Glasgow third fastest in its category, behind Milan Bergamo and Porto. Picture: John Devlin

Passenger numbers increased by 13.8 per cent from January to June compared to the same period last year, the latest report from the European airport trade body ACI Europe said.

Almost four million passengers travelled through its doors in the six-month period.

The growth means Glasgow was the third fastest-growing airport in its category - airports with between five and 10 million passengers - behind Milan Bergamo and Porto.

Figures for June show passenger growth at Glasgow of 14.1 per cent, again in third place in the category behind Milan Bergamo and Porto.

The ACI Europe report is the only air transport report which includes all types of civil aviation passenger flights such as network, low cost, charter and others.

Elsewhere, Madrid was the fastest-growing airport in the category of 25 million or more passengers while Athens led the way in the category of between 10 and 25 million.

Olivier Jankovec, director general of ACI Europe, said: “The first half of this year has seen solid passenger traffic growth for the European airport industry.

“However, where as recently as 18 months ago non-EU airports were propping up weaker passenger traffic growth at EU airports, we are now through the looking glass.

“The situation has flipped and EU airports now lead the growth - reporting 5.1 per cent during the first half of the year compared with 2.3 per cent at non-EU airports.”

He added: “This reversed trend in passenger traffic growth is likely to stay for the rest of the year, mainly due to continued weakness in the Russian economy as well as the impact of lower oil prices on the Norwegian economy.

“Meanwhile, EU economies keep improving, in particular with the former bailed-out economies of Ireland, Spain and Portugal surging ahead.

“Geopolitical instability and renewed terrorist threats in north Africa are also redirecting some leisure traffic to EU destinations.”