European airport trade body, ACI EUROPE, today released its air traffic report for January 2022.
FREIGHT & MOVEMENTS
Freight traffic across the European airport network increased by +5.8% in January compared to the same period last year – but remained at -8.6% below pre-pandemic (January 2019) levels.
This is a clear reversal compared to December 2021 (+12.4% against pre-pandemic level).
Aircraft movements increased by +97% in January compared to the same period last year, remaining at -42.1% below pre-pandemic (January 2019) levels.
This was also a sharp decline compared to the preceding month (December 2021 at -23.8%).
Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE commented: “January saw the recovery going into reverse mode, due to the attempts of many European countries to contain Omicron through a combination of local measures and largely inefficient travel restrictions.
“The positive thing is that we are now out of these dynamics.
“Travel regimes are finally aligning, allowing fully vaccinated people to freely travel again both within and outside Europe, and local restrictions are also being eased across the continent.
“But just as prospects were finally brightening, the atrocious invasion of Ukraine by Russia is now casting the longest of shadows”.
