2020 was worst for European airport traffic in 25 years

Trade body ACI Europe is calling for further financial support for European airports as they struggle for survival after a year in which passenger volumes fell back to levels last seen 25 years ago. Fresh data published by ACI Europe today shows a 70% fall in passenger numbers last year – a decline of 1.72b. ACI Europe DG Olivier Jankovec says: “With just 728m passengers in 2020 compared to 2.4b passengers in the previous year, Europe’s airports were back to their traffic levels of 1995. ”No industry can on its own withstand such a shock. While some states have taken steps to financially support their airports, only E2.2b has so far been earmarked for that purpose in Europe. This is less than 8% of the revenues airports lost last year. With further decreases in traffic over the past weeks and no recovery in sight, more needs to be done,” he states. ”Without more financial support, investments in decarbonisation, digitalisation and SESAR are at risk.”<br/>