EU accession raised traffic at Bucharest’s international airport

“Last year, Otopeni Airport positioned itself according to the general trend, observed for new countries acceding to the European Union, who registered an increase in traffic of up to 41.7 percent,” according to a statement for Business Standard by airport representatives. These listed as examples the capitals of several Central European countries, which registered a significant increase in traffic in the first year following accession, such as Budapest (28.62 percent), Bratislava (86.17 percent), and Prague (30.06 percent). Airlines reporting higher passenger numbers included Lufthansa, Air France-KLM, British Airways, Malev and Austrian Airlines.

By comparison, Aurel Vlaicu Baneasa, Bucharest’s second airport, used by low-cost airlines, could register turnover in 2008 of €14 mln, up 40 percent year-on-year, according to its General Manager, Stefan Mladin, who is expecting some 1.2 million passengers, up 35-40 percent more than in 2007.