Suvarnabhumi struggles with low capacity

Suvarnabhumi struggles with low capacity

Airports without sufficient capacity, including Suvarnabhumi in Bangkok, had a difficult 2007 as added security requirements have exacerbated problems, says a year-end analysis from the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (Capa), a Sydney-based aviation consultancy.

Airports that struggled due to strained capacity included Heathrow, Bangkok, Beijing, Frankfurt, New York, Dubai and Los Angeles.

On the other hand, some of the busiest hubs with spare capacity have had a bumper year.

These include airports in Paris, Hong Kong and Singapore.

The also report found that 2007 was a year of contrasts for the world's airports. Passenger traffic growth was generally buoyant while the freight sector staged a modest comeback in the latter part of the year.

Airports exposed to the low-cost carrier (LCC) sector _ including those in Europe (led by Vienna and Madrid), as well as Southeast Asia, Australia, Mexico, Brazil and India _ have performed well.

But they face significant infrastructure challenges in 2008 and beyond.

Offshore investment in 2007 was led by Fraport, Changi Airports International, Malaysia Airports and Turkey's TAV, while units of other major operators, including Aeroports de Paris, have won important international contracts.

Next year should provide further international investment opportunities, as airports, particularly in emerging markets, seek funding for infrastructure development. Privatisation opportunities are also expected in the future.

The world's most profitable airport, Auckland, was not privatised last year. Several deals were also undone, including Macquarie Airports' exit from Rome, BAA's withdrawal from Australia and Copenhagen's pullout from Hainan Meilan.