Europe’s Air Connectivity Remains 14% Below Pre-Pandemic Levels Amid Market Changes
Air connectivity in Europe remains 14% lower than pre-pandemic levels due to ongoing geopolitical tensions and structural changes within the aviation market, according to a new report by Airports Council International (ACI) Europe. This report, based on the connectivity indexes from SEO Amsterdam Economics, highlights a slight improvement from last year’s figures, which were 16% lower than pre-pandemic levels. However, it also underscores a significant discrepancy between air connectivity and passenger volumes, the latter of which are approaching full recovery. This gap suggests fewer and more expensive travel options for consumers and communities across Europe.
Olivier Jankovec, director general of ACI Europe, stressed the critical role of air connectivity in bolstering competitiveness and cohesion across the continent. He noted, “Every 10% increase in direct air connectivity results in a 0.5% rise in GDP per capita. Air connectivity is vital for competitiveness at local, national, and European levels and is crucial for ensuring cohesion.” Jankovec called on policymakers to address factors influencing Europe’s air connectivity, such as climate action, technological advancements, and airline consolidation.
The Airport Industry Connectivity Report 2024 reveals that while air connectivity within the EU+ markets, including the EU, EEA, Switzerland, and the UK, is down by 13% compared to 2019, non-EU markets are experiencing a more significant drop of 20%. The report highlights that Ukrainian airports have lost all air connectivity due to the ongoing conflict following Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Air connectivity in Russia has declined by 43%, and Belarus has seen an 87% reduction. Israel’s connectivity is also down by 42% due to the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.
Despite these challenges, some countries have shown resilience. Greece (+22%), Iceland (+7%), and Portugal (+4%) have surpassed pre-pandemic connectivity levels within the EU+. In contrast, Finland (-37%), Sweden (-31%), and Slovenia (-29%) continue to lag behind. Among major markets, Spain (-2%) leads in recovery, followed by the UK (-12%), France (-15%), and Germany (-24%). In non-EU+ markets, Albania (+55%), Uzbekistan (+29%), and Turkey (+24%) reported the strongest recovery. Istanbul Airport (IST) remains the leader in direct air connectivity, showing a 9% increase since 2019, with only a few other airports like Athens, Palma de Mallorca, Dublin, Istanbul-Sabiha Gökçen, Lisbon, and Rome Fiumicino also recovering or exceeding their pre-pandemic levels.
The report also highlights a performance gap between direct connectivity, which is down by 8%, and indirect connectivity, which has decreased by 17%, reflecting the shifting dynamics of the aviation market, especially the growth of ultra-low-cost carriers (ULCCs). Despite the overall decline in air connectivity, passenger traffic in Europe is projected to surpass 2019 levels by 3.2% in 2024. The European Travel Commission (ETC) also reported a notable increase in travel interest among Europeans for June-November 2024, showing a 6% rise compared to last year, indicating solidifying post-COVID travel trends and bringing stability to the tourism industry.