ACI EUROPE reported (21-Apr-2021) passenger traffic across the European airport network declined by 81.7% in 1Q2021 compared to 1Q2019. This marked a further decrease from 4Q2020 at -79.2%, resulting in the loss of 395.5 million passengers. Details include:
- EU/EEA/Switzerland and UK airports saw passenger traffic decrease from -85% in Jan-2021 to -89% in Mar-2021;
- Passenger traffic at airports in Turkey, Russia and other markets improved markedly from -59% in Jan-2021 to -49% in Mar-2021 with 1Q2021 closing at -54.8%;
- The following airports were top ranking during the quarter:
- Istanbul Airport: -64%, the busiest European airport;
- Moscow Domodedovo AIrport: -18%;
- Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport: -60%;
- Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport: -48%;
- Moscow Vnukovo Airport: -26%;
- Sochi International Airport (+47%) welcomed more passengers during the quarter than London Heathrow Airport (-91%), thus becoming the one and only airport in Europe to post an increase in passenger traffic during the quarter.
ACI added the state of airport passenger traffic also reflects the continued collapse of air connectivity, with around 2000 additional air routes lost since the start of 2021, from 6663 in Jan-2021 to 8539 in Apr-2021. [more - original PR]