European Airports Outpace Pre-Covid Passenger Numbers

European airport passenger site visitors lastly exceeded pre-COVID ranges in 2024, with a 7.4% enhance over 2023, marking a big restoration within the aviation trade.

In keeping with the Full 12 months 2024 site visitors report by ACI EUROPE, in 2024, European airports welcomed over 2.5 billion passengers, exceeding pre-pandemic ranges. This milestone comes amidst structural aviation market modifications and geopolitical tensions, which have brought on vital efficiency gaps throughout nationwide and particular person airport markets.

The site visitors enhance of seven.4% over 2023 was predominantly pushed by worldwide passenger site visitors (+8.8% vs. 2023), with home passenger site visitors remaining -6.3% beneath pre-pandemic ranges. The expansion was extra pronounced within the first half of the 12 months and through off-peak months, historically related to decrease site visitors. This means a shift in direction of cross-border mobility inside the EU Single Market and the rising demand in rising markets exterior the EU.

Regardless of this general optimistic development, practically half of Europe’s airports have been nonetheless beneath their pre-pandemic site visitors ranges in 2024. Olivier Jankovec, Director Normal of ACI EUROPE, said that the aviation market now operates at a number of speeds, with aggressive pressures repeatedly rising.

When it comes to efficiency, EU+ market airports witnessed a passenger site visitors enhance of seven.8% in 2024, outperforming these in the remainder of Europe (+5.2%). Airports within the Jap Bloc and Southern EU+ markets, counting on inbound tourism, have been the highest performers. Nevertheless, efficiency gaps have been obvious when in comparison with pre-Covid ranges, reflecting modified market dynamics and the continued influence of geopolitics.

The highest 5 European airports in 2024 have been London Heathrow, Istanbul, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Amsterdam Schiphol, and Madrid. Regardless of numerous challenges, these airports noticed elevated passenger site visitors in comparison with 2023 and managed to surpass or come near their pre-pandemic ranges.

In the meantime, smaller airports underperformed, notably these with lower than 1 million passengers, with passenger site visitors remaining 34.5% beneath pre-pandemic ranges. These airports, which contribute to European connectivity and territorial cohesion, have been affected by structural market modifications and regulatory developments.

Freight site visitors throughout the European airport community additionally elevated considerably in 2024, at +11.8% in comparison with pre-pandemic volumes. Nevertheless, plane actions have been nonetheless 3.3% beneath their pre-pandemic ranges.

Total, the restoration of European airports in 2024 signifies a big rebound within the aviation trade. Regardless of the challenges posed by the pandemic and persevering with geopolitical and financial uncertainties, the sector’s resilience is clear. Nevertheless, the uneven restoration throughout completely different airport sizes and markets means that extra work is required to make sure a complete and sustainable restoration.

Uncover extra at Airports Council Worldwide.