Passenger traffic at Aena‘s Spanish airports exceeded pre-pandemic levels in May for the fifth consecutive month, while other European terminals still operate at a lower capacity than in 2019.
More than 25 million passengers transited Spanish airports in May, or 3.4 per cent more than in the same period in 2019 and also 14 per cent more than in the corresponding month last year.
In the first five months of the year, Aena airports handled almost 103 million passengers, or 28 per cent more than in 2022, and 2.3 per cent more than in 2019.
Passenger traffic at European airports in April was the closest to a full recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic of any month yet despite sharp hikes in air fares, but still a bit lower, Airports Council International (ACI) Europe has said.
May was also the busiest month for Britain‘s Heathrow since the pandemic broke out, though passenger numbers are still slightly below those of four years ago.
Heathrow, the busiest airport in Britain and western Europe, has said it expects total passenger numbers for 2023 to reach 96 per cent of 2019 levels at its top estimate. Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority has told Heathrow that the fees it charges passengers need to fall between 2024-2026 but the airport, owned by Spain’s Ferrovial, Qatar Investment Authority and others, is appealing the ruling by arguing that lower charges will undermine investment.
