Europe's fastest-growing airport

BIRMINGHAM International and Coventry Airports are two of the fastest-growing airports in Europe, according to a new report.
The annual Airport Property Market report revealed Coventry to be the fastest growing freight airport in the UK and the ninth fastest growing European passenger airport, while Birmingham International is rated the second fastest growing UK freight airport and the fifth fastest growing European freight airport.
Chris Monk of property consultants Kings Sturge - who conducted the survey - said: "Increased passenger numbers are currently being boosted by the boom in low-cost carriers which continues to be fuelled by the seemingly insatiable demand for cheap flights to holiday destinations.
"As far as the future is concerned, there is no doubt that climate change policy and regulation will have an increasing impact on aviation activity. However, it will be interesting to see whether security concerns reduce demand for air transport significantly - or whether airport operators increase their demand for space to accommodate more staff, equipment and much larger holding areas for passengers."
Other changes could also be on the cards - especially where airport design is concerned - because of increasing demands being made on airport facilities in view of rising numbers of passengers of low-cost flights.
Chris added: "Because low-cost carriers have to drive down costs, they are famously tough when it comes to negotiating the rent of airport facilities.
"If airports continue to offer the same facilities to low-cost carriers as to all other airlines, there will be inevitably be a mismatch in terms of the cost and quality of service provision to differing airline companies. It will be intriguing to see how airport operators respond to this."
Coventry has now entered the 'league table' of Europe's top ten fastest-growing passenger airports for the first time.

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