OREANDA-NEWS. May 25, 2010. ACI Europe, the European Division of Airports Council International has posted its latest update of air travel & cargo stats for the March of 2010, noting an overall growth trend. The number of passengers welcomed by the European airports, in particular, has grown by 6,9 percent, whereas the total volume of cargo and mail carried by air has seen an increase by an impressive 26,7 percent, while the number of total flights operated has remained practically unchanged, compared with the March of 2009.

Throughout the accounting period of March, 2010, Vnukovo International has been displaying the best passenger growth rate among the airports of its Group (Group 3 - the airports welcoming 5 to 10 mln. pax a year), According to ACI Europe, Vnukovo Intl.'s passenger numbers have grown by 35 percent against those of March, 2009, the number of flights handled, by 17,6 percent respectively, whereas total cargo handled has grown by an impressive 37 percent against the same period of last year.

In terms of passengers welcomed in March, 2010, the Airport ranks 44th among the 113 major European airports surveyed (whereas in March, 2009 it came in 48th).

Vnukovo International is one of Russia’s largest air transport hubs with over 130 thousand flights by more than two hundred carriers, both domestic and foreign, served here annually. The Airport’s route network and flight geography span most of Russia’s regions, the CIS countries and other nations – former members of the Union, as well as countries in Western Europe, Asia and Africa.