The Italian Aerospace Information Web
by Aeromedia - corso Giambone 46/18 - 10135 Torino (Italy)
Traffic Decline at Turin/Caselle Airport in 2008
In 2008 the airline passenger total at Turin/Caselle airport decreased to 3,420,833, -2.5% with respect to the 3,509,253 in 2007 (see table). In particular, 1.968.427 were generated by domestic flights, 1.188.187 by international services and 264.219 by the charter activity.
The first sign of the downturn was recorded in April, 2008, with a total of 289.135 monthly passengers compared with 294.648 during the same month of the previous year. After a slight recovery in May and June, the decline of the overall traffic increased progressively. Almost 30,000 fewer passengers were registered in December, 2008. Aircraft movements decreased from 62,136 in 2007 to 58,148 in 2008 (-6.8%). Handled baggage dropped to 2,230,662 with respect to 2,415,374 in 2007 (-8.2%).
In 2008, the commercial traffic at Turin/Caselle airport was characterized by negative and positive factors. Besides the general effects of the financial downturn, the near-bankrupt Alitalia slashed its winter timetable, cutting a number of daily frequencies to the main domestic destinations such as Rome and Naples. The same strategy, on the same routes, was effected by the slightly less troubled AirOne. This loss of capacity was partly overcome thanks to two smaller Italian airlines. In May, 2008, Blu-express started new low-cost flights to Rome, gradually increasing in frequency with time, and, in December, Air Italy started new flights to Naples. In June, 2009, Air Italy will also open a summer season service to Olbia, in Sardinia.
At the beginning of the year, Ryanair undersigned a new agreement with the Turin airport, and in November began new low-cost connections to a number of European destinations. In October, 2008, British Airways added a second daily frequency to its Turin-Gatwick service.
In May, 2008, Air Vallée moved its base to Turin, with an established network covering Genoa, Naples, Pescara and Trieste. In January, 2009, the Aosta Valley’s regional airline started a new connection to Rome/Fiumicino, with two daily flights, from Monday to Saturday, and a single frequency on Sunday. All Air Vallée services are operated by 31-seat Fairchild Dornier 328-200 jet aircraft.
In the picture: The Turin/Caselle airport during the 2008-2009 snowy Winter season. (Aeromedia)
(Aeromedia, February 2009)