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Front Page » Transportation » Miami adds Europe air links

Miami adds Europe air links

Written by on June 27, 2013
  • www.miamitodayepaper.com
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Airline links to Europe are on the rise, driven primarily by demand and Miami International Airport’s efforts to increase its service levels in the European market.

“Miami continues to be a great draw for European traffic, whether leisure-driven, for business or connecting through to other destinations, cruises, etc.,” said Chris Mangos, director of the Marketing Division of the Miami-Dade Aviation Department.

In 2005, Miami International began a development program to enhance European air service levels to Miami in view of expanding market potential, Mr. Mangos said.

Targeted were new international routes to added countries as well as secondary markets within European countries that already had links here that could sustain separate direct service to Miami.

“Today’s air traffic levels and destinations are the sum of both the growing attraction to Miami by Europeans and the air service marketing efforts coming to fruition,” Mr. Mangos said.

Additionally, he said, the department has seen considerable European investment, both in businesses and real estate, despite recession and struggling economies on both sides of the Atlantic.

“Since 2005, Miami has since grown to become the number two most visited destination in the US by international visitors, and in terms of air service, we have nearly doubled our footprint to and from Europe from eight destinations in 2005 to 14 in 2013,” Mr. Mangos said.

“MIA has experienced 41% growth in European traffic in that same time span.”

Last year, the airport handled 2,978,588 passengers on its Europe services, a big jump from 2,119,008 in 2005.

Top European traffic markets for Miami International in 2012 were the UK, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Portugal, Netherlands and Russia

According to Mr. Mangos, so far in 2013 Germany and Russia show higher growth rates than the other markets and could move up the top 10 ranks even farther during the rest of the year.

As for new service, XL Airways from France is to begin Paris-Miami service June 28, joining Air France and American Airlines on the route. AirBerlin’s Dusseldorf-Miami service will increase to daily flights in late October, Mr. Mangos said, followed by American Airlines’ new daily service linking Miami and Milan in November.

“We continue to work toward additional route development and are presently involved in Central and Eastern Europe as well as in Scandinavia for new market opportunities for Miami,” he said.

Currently, 121 flights weekly depart from Miami International to 14 destinations in Europe served by 12 European airlines and American Airlines.

From January through May, European traffic dropped just over 2% from the same period last year, Mr. Mangos added.

While some of the decline could be attributable to a belt-tightening European travel market, he said, there’s reason to believe summer travel could be as good as or better than in 2012, based on forecasts from airlines and industry associations.

“The June through September travel season,” he said, “will really tell us how strongly Europe will perform this year.”

Miami Adds Europe Air Links

Written by on June 27, 2013

By Blanca Venegas
Airline links to Europe are on the rise, driven primarily by demand and Miami International Airport’s efforts to increase its service levels in the European market.

"Miami continues to be a great draw for European traffic, whether leisure-driven, for business or connecting through to other destinations, cruises, etc.," said Chris Mangos, director of the Marketing Division of the Miami-Dade Aviation Department.

In 2005, Miami International began a development program to enhance European air service levels to Miami in view of expanding market potential, Mr. Mangos said.

Targeted were new international routes to added countries as well as secondary markets within European countries that already had links here that could sustain separate direct service to Miami. 

"Today’s air traffic levels and destinations are the sum of both the growing attraction to Miami by Europeans and the air service marketing efforts coming to fruition," Mr. Mangos said.

Additionally, he said, the department has seen considerable European investment, both in businesses and real estate, despite recession and struggling economies on both sides of the Atlantic. 

"Since 2005, Miami has since grown to become the number two most visited destination in the US by international visitors, and in terms of air service, we have nearly doubled our footprint to and from Europe from eight destinations in 2005 to 14 in 2013," Mr. Mangos said.

"MIA has experienced 41% growth in European traffic in that same time span."    

Last year, the airport handled 2,978,588 passengers on its Europe services, a big jump from 2,119,008 in 2005.

Top European traffic markets for Miami International in 2012 were the UK, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Portugal, Netherlands and Russia

According to Mr. Mangos, so far in 2013 Germany and Russia show higher growth rates than the other markets and could move up the top 10 ranks even farther during the rest of the year.

As for new service, XL Airways from France is to begin Paris-Miami service June 28, joining Air France and American Airlines on the route. AirBerlin’s Dusseldorf-Miami service will increase to daily flights in late October, Mr. Mangos said, followed by American Airlines’ new daily service linking Miami and Milan in November.   

"We continue to work toward additional route development and are presently involved in Central and Eastern Europe as well as in Scandinavia for new market opportunities for Miami," he said.

Currently, 121 flights weekly depart from Miami International to 14 destinations in Europe served by 12 European airlines and American Airlines.

From January through May, European traffic dropped just over 2% from the same period last year, Mr. Mangos added. 

While some of the decline could be attributable to a belt-tightening European travel market, he said, there’s reason to believe summer travel could be as good as or better than in 2012, based on forecasts from airlines and industry associations.

"The June through September travel season," he said, "will really tell us how strongly Europe will perform this year."To read the entire issue of Miami Today online, subscribe to e-MIAMI TODAY, an exact digital replica of the printed edition.

  • www.miamitodayepaper.com
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