European airports saw traffic growth continue to slow during June, pulling down overall performance during the first half of 2018.
Figures from Airports Council International (ACI) Europe show that cargo traffic at European airports increased by 1.6% year on year in June, while over the first six months of the year there was a 3.3% increase.
Olivier Jankovec, director general of ACI Europe, was not overly positive about the outlook for the rest of the year as a result of Brexit and ongoing trade disputes.
“Looking ahead beyond the summer, the diminishing growth in freight traffic points to the economic risks from trade disputes and their escalation,” he said.
“Higher prices, disrupted supply chains and wavering exports are likely implications – which would inevitably end up affecting demand for air transport.
“The increasing odds of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit scenario are just adding to the stress – and could soon start weakening consumer confidence.”
Major hubs have also been suffering with issues that have affected freight traffic in the first half. Schiphol saw cargo traffic decline as a result of slot limits and Frankfurt also registered a slide due to capacity bottle necks.
The slowdown in freight growth as the year progressed can be seen in the quarterly figures produced by ACI. In the first quarter European airport registered an increase in freight traffic of 4.5% while in the second quarter this had slowed to 2.1%.
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