European Air Traffic Has Yet to Reach 2019 Levels

Despite it being a high number compared to last year, the European air traffic still remained below the pre-pandemic levels. Only 87 per cent of the 2019 levels were reached over the past week, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.

Of all the top ten aircraft operators, Ryanair was the busiest, with 2,944 flights per day on average, which is 12 per cent more than the pre-pandemic levels.

Turkish Airlines also registered an increase in its daily operated flights, though lower than the one of Ryanair. Turkish Airlines operated 1,512 flights per day on average and had an increase of three per cent compared to the same week in 2019.

Other airlines, easyJet, Lufthansa, and Air France, are also part of the top five list of aircraft operators with the largest number of flights from July 13 until July 19. Despite all the three operators having more than 1,000 flights per day on average, they wear unable to near the pre-pandemic levels as the above-mentioned operators.

EasyJet registered a decrease of 17 per cent compared to the same week in 2019, Lufthansa registered a decrease of 26 per cent, and Air France registered a decrease of 20 per cent.

As for the busiest countries in the period from July 13 until July 19, Eurocontrol said that the United Kingdom recorded the largest number of flights. The UK had 5,708 average daily flights and was only one per cent below the levels of the previous week.

The UK is followed by Spain with an average of 5,259 daily flights, Germany with an average of 4,896 daily flights, France with an average of 4,478 daily flights, and Italy with an average of 4,051 flights. Türkiye, Greece, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Switzerland are also part of the top ten busiest states list.

Additionally, Eurocontrol revealed that IGA Istanbul, Paris CdG, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London Heathrow, Madrid Barajas, Antalya, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, and Munich were the top ten busiest airports.

Previously, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reported that travellers’ confidence continues to decrease as European airports keep experiencing high numbers of cancellations, strikes, staff shortages, and increasing demand.

ForwardKeys showed that the European flight bookings for July and August have substantially dropped as travellers have decided to avoid air travel inconveniences.