Industry confidence is beginning to grow

The Airport Show has closed its doors for another year and although the event attracted less people than last year – 4700 in total – the overall mood from regional buyers and suppliers pointed to the Middle East’s continuing primacy in aviation trade and its importance as an international travel hub.

But it hasn’t been an easy time for the event’s organiser. Reed Exhibitions acquired the Airport Show in mid-2008, just as the industry began to nosedive, yet, despite this, Reed recorded a 23% increase in the number of hosted buyers from 35 in 2008 to 43 this year, representing 19 airports from 11 countries.

Despite the tough market conditions, signs of industry resurgence were also evident at Routes Europe in Prague.

May’s event was the biggest and most successful of Routes’ regional events to date and delegates appeared to unanimously agree that industry confidence was on the rise.

Routes chairman Mike Howarth commented that although times are still difficult, airlines are starting to think about niche routes that they would never have thought about a year or two ago, while established network carriers are now approaching secondary or third-tier airports to explore new opportunities.

Domestic traffic figures are also showing signs of a recovery – Read this month's AVIATION BUSINESS issue for the latest stats – which could indicate that international traffic figures may start to increase in the second quarter of 2010.