Development in the air highly varied – a lot of business on the ground. Heading into the new year 2006 with great optimism!

Feldkirchen, Janary 16, 2006: The cargo business soared high in 2005, while the development of passenger figures remained slightly below the figures of the record year 2004.

“We have every reason to head with optimism into the new year”, Mag. Gerhard Widmann, Managing Director of Graz Airport, is convinced. “Not just because we achieved so much ‘on the ground’, but also because the trend in passenger figures in the second half of 2005 was better than in the first six months and because our cargo business reached a new record high”.

Top development in the cargo business
Even the optimistic plan was exceeded and for the first time (!) in the history of Graz Airport, the 10,000 tons threshold was passed! Business increased by 14.46% compared to the year 2004.

New destinations
“Last year, three new destinations were added to our scheduled flights plan. After Friedrichshafen and Berlin, flights to Paris were launched in mid-December.” The two Board Members of Grazer Stadtwerke AG – owner of Graz Airport since late 2004 - Wolfgang Messner and Wolfgang Malik are pleased about the dynamic development of the airport.

Crucial development ‘on the ground’
The year 2005 will, however, be remembered mainly for all that was achieved on the ground: The extension and conversion of the terminal – all within the specified time and cost frames – mean more service, more space, added security for the passengers of Graz Airport and for the airport itself they imply a step into the future.
The fire brigade facilities at the airport were also extended and a new hangar was built for Styrian Spirit.

A comparison of figures: