17th Sep 2014 10:41
LONDON (Alliance News) - Westminster Group PLC Wednesday said year-to-date airline passenger volumes have increased in west Africa despite the Ebola outbreak, with potential for further increases should airlines resume suspended flights in the region.
Westminster said several airlines have temporarily suspended flights into the affected region, such as British Airways, who announced they have suspended flights until the 31st December.
Westminster manages airport security at two airports in west Africa, based in Liberia and Sierra Leone. In its statement it did not specify the airport affected. A spokesman for the company confirmed the outbreak has only affected one of its airports but declined to name it.
Airlines such as Brussels Airlines and Royal Air Maroc continue to fly into the airport with additional flights being added by certain carriers. New carriers have also introduced ad-hoc flights in response to demand, it added.
"Due to strong growth momentum in prior months, year-to-date passenger volumes as at the end of August were still 1.6% ahead of the same period in 2013. Passenger volumes in the first-half of September are 41% of those in the same period in 2013," it said.
"This could improve should airlines respond to international pressure to resume flights," said Westminster in a statement.
The International Air Travel Association and the World Health Organisation (WHO) are not recommending any restrictions on air travel, and there are growing calls from bodies such as the UN, the African Union and regional civil aviation bodies for suspended flights in the affected region to be reintroduced as a matter of urgency, according to the company.
"We have continued to maintain full security at the airport which demonstrates our commitment to the affected country and local community. This, combined with the assistance we have given in providing advanced fever detection systems and in helping to screen passengers in accordance with WHO requirements to keep the airport operational, has been recognized by the local government and community, which bodes well for our long term operations," said Chief Executive Peter Fowler in the company's statement Wednesday.
"A further major mitigation measure is our strategy of diversification over multiple product offerings in multiple territories. Passenger volumes in airports in the affected region are approximately just 0.6% of our total aviation prospect pipeline and less than 5% of our more advanced prospects," he added.
Westminster's shares were down 3.7% to 42.85 pence per share Wednesday morning.
By Joshua Warner; [email protected]; @JoshAlliance
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