12.3 million passengers - a 3.6% increase for 2003

2003 has been a very successful year for Athens International Airport. A total of 12.3 million passengers travelled through the airport, marking a 3.6% increase on a year-to-year, while the airport serviced 170,000 flights (+6.7%) and handled 110,000 tons of cargo (+2.7%).

Despite the unfavourable industry climate at the beginning of the year due to the international recession, the war in Iraq, and the unexpected SARS effects in late spring, "Eleftherios Venizelos" airport achieved an impressive recovery in passenger traffic during the last quarter of 2003, with 2.8 million passengers, i.e. a 9% increase against the corresponding 2002 period.

In 2003, domestic traffic enjoyed a remarkable improvement with 4.4 million passengers, i.e. a 5.4% increase against 2002.

International traffic also experienced a rise, with 7.9 million passengers (+2.6%), despite the considerable downturn experienced by American and Far East markets, due to the international crisis. On the contrary, the increased traffic towards EU countries (+5.4%) and the non-EU European countries (+2.3%) led to the overall positive international traffic development of Athens Airport.

The dynamic recovery of the global aviation industry during the last quarter of 2003, and the forthcoming Olympic Games effect on Athens traffic, were the key factors that contributed to the 2003 traffic figures upraise, whereas AIA's strategy for attracting new airlines and introducing new destinations - consistently followed since 2001 - also played a decisive role. In 2003, seven (7) new airlines launched services out of Athens (three of which are low cost carriers), while nine (9) new international destinations were added to AIA's network, with an average of 100 additional flights per week.

The above very positive passenger traffic development, along with the important international distinctions achieved by Athens's "Eleftherios Venizelos" airport in 2003, marked the closing of another successful period and reflects the efficient cooperation of the Athens airport community, which brings together more than 250 enterprises and organisations and gives employment to more than 14,000 people.

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• IATA Global Airport Monitor: Best airport in the World for the level of services
• IATA Eagle Award for the support towards airlines
• Institute of Transport Management (ITM) Award for the innovative business scheme and the airport's success to date
   

Analytical charts and graphs regarding the structure of AIA's traffic development in 2003,
per month, flight category, geographical region, and most popular destinations, follow.

DETAILED INFORMATION REGARDING AIA'S
TRAFFIC IN 2003

	Scheduled flights continued to absorb the largest part of AIA's passenger traffic. Low cost carriers achieved the greatest increase in international scheduled flights, winning a considerable portion over charter flights.
	A very important development against the previous year is the market share increase in the regions of non-EU Europe (+7%), the Middle East (+3%) and Africa (+13%), which are the targets for the Airport's development into Southeastern Europe's main gateway.
	The impressive 5.4% increase in the domestic passenger traffic did not affect the market shares of the top destinations. It is noteworthy that despite the strong competition from coastal lines, Crete (Heraklion and Chania) enjoyed increased passenger numbers
	London remained the top destination out of Athens, achieving a 13.3% increase of its share against 2002. Thanks to a significant increase of frequencies, Paris climbed to the second place, in front of Frankfurt and Larnaca
	Despite the passenger decline in the specific market, New York remained the top non-European destination. On the contrary, due to the SARS effect, Bangkok lost its 4th place to Dubai, which experienced a dynamic development during the past year.