Amsterdam Schiphol Airport sees mixed results in 2012 as EU weakens

AMSTERDAM Airport Schiphol says it finished 2012 with its strongest quarter for cargo, handling 380,284 tonnes of exports and imports in the fourth quarter.

It said resilience in most markets largely overcame continuing softness in traffic to and from Asia, and the US.

A statement from airport authorities said last year as a whole saw improvements in exports to Europe, including Russia (up 29 per cent), and also to Latin America (up 8.9 per cent).

Imports from Europe including Russia rose 57 per cent, and from Africa were up 1.8 per cent. Exports accounted for 49.34 per cent of all cargo, remaining flat compared with 48.96 per cent in 2011.

"These positive figures largely counteracted continuing weakness in Asia and the USA-Schiphol's top two markets. These were both down eight per cent overall

Asia retained its number one spot with a 37.8 per cent share of all traffic, although this slipped from 40 per cent the previous year. The US accounted for 17.6 per cent of Schiphol's traffic, down from 18.6 per cent in 2011.

Total freighter movements in 2012 fell to 15,543, down 2.5 per cent against 2011.

Said airport vice president Enno Osinga: "The weak beginning to 2012 was the largest factor in the full year's slight drop in tonnage. After that, the year displayed steadier traffic flows than 2011, with less pronounced peaks and troughs. Amid the on-going economic problems in the Euro Zone and their adverse effect on consumer confidence and spending, we cannot be too unhappy with the final total."