European airports handle 660 million more passengers in first half of 2022

ACI EUROPE’s traffic report for the first half year of 2022 shows a dramatic increase in passenger numbers – up 660 million on the same period in 2021. The increase was predominantly driven by international traffic (+381.3%), and concentrated in the second quarter following the easing as of March of the Omicron-related restrictions for travel within Europe and a number of external markets. Airports in the EU+ market saw by far the biggest jump in passenger traffic, clocking a +348.9% increase in the first half of the year overall.

On publishing the fresh data, Olivier Jankovec said “If COVID-19 caused an unprecedented collapse in passenger traffic for Europe’s airports, the rebound we have experienced this Spring – especially in the EU+ market – is equally extraordinary. The fact that volumes across the continent still remained -28.3% below pre-pandemic levels for the first half of the year should not eclipse the sheer and unprecedented unleashing of pent-up demand that has occurred since March”.

Read the full press statement here.