Movement : Airport traffic grew at a dizzy rate last year, as is clear from analysis of this year's top 100 rankings, but the issues of congestion and economic downturn continue to loom.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

Publication: Airline Business

Publication Date: 04-JUN-01

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COPYRIGHT 2001 Reed Business Information Ltd.

On the face of it, the world's airports could hardly have wished for better performance last year. Traffic levels hit new records and growth was back at the buoyant rates that it has not seen for years. However, there are clouds on the horizon. With all the economic signposts pointing south, it is doubtful that traffic will match the same dizzy heights this year. Also, the problem of congestion continues to rear its head, at least in the mature markets of North America and Europe.

First the good news. Preliminary results from the Airports Council International (ACI) show both passenger and freight growth pushing along at a heady 5.8%in 2000. The extent of the boom is clear from a glance across the ranking of the top 100 world airports (see pages 78-82). Almost 20% of them posted double digit growth in passenger traffic and only five noted a decline.

But there are some interesting comparisons between these leaders and laggards. Take...

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