Europe’s airports suffer first passenger decline since post-Covid recovery

Europe’s airports suffered a fall in traffic in April for the first time ​since the post-Covid recovery five years ago, new data reveals.

The decline reflected disruption caused by the war with Iran, according to European airport trade body ACI Europe, which also highlighted concerns with the EU Entry Exit System (EES).

The group’s ​April traffic report ​shows that passenger numbers across the European ⁠airport network fell by 0.7% compared to ​the same month last year.

The reduction was the first year on year drop since Europe’s aviation sector marked its first recovery from the pandemic in April 2021.

April’s performance follows a 3.8% rise in passengers in March over the same month last year.

Airports in Spain (+3.7%) and Italy (+2.2%) posted the best results in April, while those in Germany (-8.5%), the UK (-2.1%), and France (-0.9%) saw passenger volumes receding.

Barcelona (+4.1%), Madrid (+3.3%) and Amsterdam Schiphol (+2.7%) were the only major airports seeing passenger traffic increasing in April. 

Istanbul Airport (-6.8%) and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (-3.4%) – usually top performers – both contracted in April, with volumes also declining at Gatwick (-8.8%) and Heathrow (-5.34%).

Meanwhile, Rome-Fiumicino (-0.6%) and Paris-CDG (0.0%) were essentially flat. 

Munich (-16.4%) and Frankfurt (-11%) posted the sharpest decrease largely due to seven days of industrial action during the month.

ACI Europe said: “This decline, while marginal marks a significant milestone - the first year on year drop in passenger traffic since Europe’s air transport recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic began in April 2021.”

Director general Olivier Jankovec said: “April marks a clear inflection point for European air traffic.

"While we were already seeing a normalisation of passenger traffic growth after the strong post-pandemic bounce back, geopolitical instability - most notably the war in the Middle East - is now further weighing on growth and exposing significant differences in performance across markets.

"The encouraging news is that demand generally remains strong, airlines capacity adjustments limited and fears over potential jet fuel shortages have eased.

“However, our most immediate concern remains the severe disruptions and hardship imposed upon passengers by border control processes linked to the Schengen Entry/Exit System.

"Unless authorities are allowed to introduce greater flexibility, including fully suspending the system where operationally necessary, disruptions for passengers will intensify over the coming weeks and months. For many airports and airlines, the situation risks becoming unsustainable.

"It is puzzling that at EU level nobody seems to really care about that, and the massive damage this is inflicting upon Europe’s reputation as a welcoming and efficient destination.”