Passenger traffic, aircraft movements decline; cargo traffic increases at QAIA

AMMAN (JT) — Airport International Group (AIG), the Jordanian company responsible for the rehabilitation, expansion and operation of Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA), announced Wednesday in a press statement a decline in QAIA's year-to-date (YTD) and monthly passenger traffic (PAX) and aircraft movements (ACM) during the first four months of 2015.

"For the first time in a consistent streak of traffic growth, route cancellations and regional political circumstances have triggered such a decline," the press release said, while indicating that positive results were registered across the board for cargo figures.

"The decrease in traffic during the first four months of 2015 was primarily attributed to the cancellation of routes, paired with ongoing disturbances in neighbouring countries, which led to fewer passengers and flights passing through the region and arriving at QAIA," the statement added.

Between January-April 2015, the Kingdom’s prime gateway witnessed an 8.5 per cent YTD decrease in passengers, reaching 2,089,816 PAX compared to 2,282,894 PAX during the same period in 2014.

ACM also dipped by 6.5 per cent to register 21,644 ACM as opposed to 23,153 ACM a year earlier.

Despite the mentioned drops, QAIA achieved 4.9 per cent YTD increase in cargo traffic, totalling 31,290 tonnes.