Last update: 23.06.2002

Monthly news coverage of the only tri-national airport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg - Regio TriRhena

Features of the month
Scheduled Updates: Cabo Verbe, Swiss, Lufthansa - Summer Charter Program 2002: Magic Tours, Avione, Turkish - Special Movements - Financial Figures - Traffic Report - Express Cargo Zone - IG Cargo - EAP as Investors Platform - Easyjet

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SCHEDULED UPDATES

CABO VERDE AIRLINES SWITCHED TO FRIDAY non-stop services ex Sal and via Munich back to Sal once a week.

LX 760 / AA 6289 BSL - BRU is a new code-share airlink for SWISS and American Airlines. At BRU, AA 89 is waiting for passengers bound for Chicago on day 1 to 6.
SWISS also reshuffles all MUC flights responding to LH's 4th service on this route. LX-to-LX transfers are being improved.

BASEL - GENEVA - (MARSEILLE) vv. (QE 512/519) is cleared for take-off (date not set) marking a 5th (early bird) flight to GVA and (evening) departure back to BSL with transfers at both sides. QE operates three daily services Basel -Marseille.

SWISS IS INTERLINING with Air France, Lufthansa and THY
for onward connections on SWISS via EAP.
Statistics show a steady flow of transfer passengers arriving by German carriers and departing again on SWISS (to ALC or BIO).

LH's 5th DAILY FLIGHT TO MUNICH is set for launch on September 1 (EAP dep. at 06.55, EAP arr. at 21.40 local time).

EURO BILLS & COINS are now accepted for bus rides to downtown Basel with new generation ticket machines in place.

SPECIAL MOVEMENTS

.... MD-11 HZ-AFA1 OF THE SAUDI ROYAL FLEET touched down on RWY 16 for a short maintenance visit at Jet Aviation's maintenance/repair/overhaul (MRO)facilities on May 29. The aircraft received further technical attention at SR Technics.
.... ART BASEL and THE YOUNG ART FAIR are attracting plenty of Biz Jets….

The BD-700 (N-701WH) "Global Explorer" showing off on the ramp on May 31
Photo: Rolf Keller

SUMMER CHARTER PROGRAM 2002 (status report)

90 weekly charters are on the market in 2002 (down from 115 flights in 2001). Seat capacity is at about 14'400 units a week at its peak.
Cancellations were reported by Eurowings (HER), by MNG Airlines (AYT & IST) - Magic Tours may again start a Friday departure (MNG to AYT or ADB) at the end of June - and by Condor (VDO). Electra Airlines could postpone (smaller aircraft to HER) or cancel all flights depending on tour operator survival.
Avione Travel is preparing some charters to Meditarrenean resorts. If travel picks up, additional services may go on sale during September and October.
Turkish Airlines has sent in handling requests for up to 22 extra charters to Turkish destinations (Ankara, Istanbul etc.)

>> click here for a detailed charter program <<

FINANCIAL FIGURES

FISCAL FIGURES OF 2001 are out. The EAP got its share of SR's crash (drop in revenues related to passenger and freight)

Areas of Revenue in %
Passenger Tax 17 (18)
Cargo Tax 3 (4)
Landing Fees 11 (11)
Tarmac Transfer 2 (3)
Rental Fees 15 (15)
Industrial Services 15 (13)
Commercial Receipts 8 (7)
Equipment Rentals 13 (11)
Other Revenues 15 (16)
the year 2000 in ( )

Major extensions of passenger terminal facilities are under way.

Investment Pax Terminal 68
Assets in Real Estate (terminals) 264
Cash flow 23
Gross Revenue 26

Areas of Expenditure in %
Personnel 20 (20)
Operations paid 23 (21)
Taxes paid 4 (4)
Debts serviced 9 (6)
Investment(returns) 34 (38)
Purchases accrued 10 (10)
the year 2000 in ( ) (*in mio. of Euro)

TRAFFIC REPORT

Passengers (scheduled)	Jan 02	Feb 02	Mar 02	Apr 02	May 02
			171'182	177'306	213'054	224'949	213'462*

Transfer Passengers 	Jan 02	Feb 02	Mar 02	Apr 02	May 02	Jan - May
German Carriers		885	1'046	1'265	1'071	1'073	5'260
French Carriers		698	751	1'077	1'250	1'105	4'803
Swiss Carriers		35'395	35'498	49'705	49'628	52'055	222'038
Total Transfers		36'978	37'298	52'047	51'949	54'233	232'101
Share in %		21.6	21.0	24.4	23.1	24.3	23.2

* SR's collapse reduced transfer passengers BSL - ZRH to a trickle (May at 4'117 compared to 18'780 in 2001). Airlinks are down to 3 daily flights. Seat capacity is now at 380 a day. Passengers are either taking other (AF/BA/LH) airlines or go by train or car to Zürich.

>>> EXPRESS CARGO ZONE <<<

EXPRESSCARGO IS READY FOR A LARGER SITE. DHL, FedEx, TNT and UPS want to lift their throughput.

Today's warehouse and apron facilities are fully saturated (at 2'500 shipments a day and 22'168 tons in 2001). The integrators claim about 90% share of the Swiss expresscargo market. Larger aircraft deployed (A-310, B-757, TU-204) are offering room also for loads ex Southern Germany and Eastern France. Estimates go for additional shipments (up to 30% ).
The EAP is now called to open the gates for such hikes in thruput under state-of-the-art conditions.

"Zone 4" is where future cargo activity is heading to. French authorities have cleared the way in principal to develop the site. Meanwhile, the EAP has purchased land titles for 260'000 sqm. with three sectors for planning: 122'000 sqm. in airside infrastructure, 35'000 sqm. in terminal facilities and 113'000 sqm. in public sector infrastructure (roads and parkings etc.).
A masterplan (supported by pre-feasibility studies with a focus on financing, building, management and marketing) is required prior to any call for tender.
Preferred project partners (groups of companies) are those with expertise in commercial and technical site developments. A final say is expected at the end of 2002, with construction starting in early 2003 and operations to begin in late 2004.

French and Swiss customs have to be present. A fully bonded area is an issue with restricted access to airline, shipper, service personnel and customers only.

IG CARGO was founded in 2001, responding to a malaise felt in the local industry about the EAP's continued neglect of this sector. IG Cargo board members touched base with the bulk of companies present to feel the temperature.
The absence of state-of-the-art infrastructure, job safety and general security concerns are at the core of their complaints.
High rental charges do not match with what is being offered.

The underlying problem was identified: The airport has no clear strategy for general cargo.
IG Cargo outlined its lobbying approach. Also on the agenda, is to build a truly tri-national body, representing all players in the industry.

The EAP as a European gateway for imports and exports MUST be at the core of any efforts by IG Cargo !

EXPRESS CARGO STATISTICS 1997 to 2002

Carrier		1998	1999	2000	2001	2002

Total in tons	17201	19446	20983	22168	8941

DHL		7421	7700	7667	8150
FEDEX		3210	4712	3521	5527
TNT		4201	5136	5924	4755
UPS		2284	2535	3565	3700

THE EUROAIRPORT AS INVESTORS PLATFORM is gaining momentum with new rules approved by its Board.

The arrival of Crossair in 1984 prompted longterm agreements with private (LX) investors who started with massive construction activities soon after.
SWISS IS INVESTING 110 MIO. EUROS in hanger and headquarter expansion (as reported).

JET AVIATION IS DOING LIKEWISE. 10 mio. Euros are going into a 4-storey service center at its present facility. 14'000 sqm. of hangar space is available for heavy maintenance and interior outfittings.

REGA - SWISS AIR AMBULANCE SERVICE will have its own heli-pad soon which is ready for operationat at the end of October 2002.

ESSO (EXXON) FRANCE is generating funds for a new fuel delivery center.

"ZONE 4" is a new match in the EAP's history. It marks the first territorial expansion since 1949 when Basel-Mulhouse (now EuroAirport) was established.
The site will be essential for future business. Calling in tenders will measure the (investors) temperature.
Selling points are the EAP's location at the main arteries of trade to Swiss and EU markets. As potential EC gateway (French customs) the EAP can play the fast through-put trump which is certainly attractive to shippers and airlines alike.
Companies like "Hochtief" Airport Germany, Vinci Airport France, Aeroport de Paris Management, Prologis and GE Capital Services USA may find the Zone 4 a good start as the (customer) base is already there.

Dear Editor, please take a look at Easyjet's latest market ideas…

UK's mental divide with continental Europe may be its waterways. Odd findings can occasionally drift ashore.

Easyjet calls markets in Europe (Hahn) "off-road" whenever a map has to be pulled out just to get the message of others (Ryanair).
CEO Webster assesses Swiss markets : "Market demand is at Geneva and Zürich. Favorable airside costs are at Basel's EAP. But, Basel is a "no place" with UK travel industry.
Who is off-track here ? Easyjet, the EAP classified in this way, or airline assessments at large ?

Lowcost carriers' drives to cut costs at all ends is well heard, so why not take them up on this. Indeed, something is odd in the CEO's approach to Switzerland. Take this as starter: Swiss are living basically next to each other thanks to good highway and train networks. Take the EAP within 60 miles to Zürich, with additional markets in France and Germany, placed in a research driven economy fueled by thousands of "ex-pats" with plenty of ties to the UK and worldwide. It is high mobility talk: 10'000 with family in the greater Basel area. At Novartis many are switching back and forth every year.
The CEO is off-track, no question about that. Following beaten tracks may prove costly. SWISS and others can hardly wait to see Easyjet flopping. Again, to sting SWISS at Zürich is tempting, likewise to press for more (BSL) airport concessions ?!

Yours, Monty's Flying Circus

AIRTRAFFIC PROMOTION GROUP, WANDERSTRASSE 77, 4054 BASEL - TEL./FAX. ++41 61 302 5775 / E-MAIL. EAPNEWS@HOTMAIL.COM

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