A new report reveals “a systemic collapse of the aviation network and air connectivity due to the Covid-19 crisis” in which 6,000 air routes previously operated from Europe’s airports have still not been restored nine months on.
ACI Europe’s 2020 Airport Industry Connectivity Report found that among Europe's larger airports the biggest declines in direct connectivity were suffered by Madrid-Barajas (-71 per cent), Rome-Fiumicino (-70 per cent), Munich (-68 per cent), London-Heathrow (-68 per cent) and Frankfurt (-67 per cent) as of September.
Direct connectivity at Russian and Turkish airports has proven more resilient, due to both the size and relative dynamic of their domestic market. This has resulted in more contained direct connectivity losses for Moscow-Domodedovo (-12 per cent), Saint Petersburg (-26 per cent), Moscow-Vnukovo (-28 per cent) and Istanbul-Sabiha Gökçen (-33 per cent).
Hub connectivity has been even more affected than direct connectivity, with the top six European airports for hub connectivity having recovered only 16 per cent of their hub connectivity by September.
Olivier Jankovec, director general of ACI Europe, said: “The damage is so systemic that relying solely on market forces to restore air connectivity would not be realistic. The EU and governments across Europe must urgently intervene to help jump-start it.”
He added: “Air connectivity is an essential part of the productive capacity of our societies, with every 10 per cent increase in direct air connectivity delivering a 0.5 per cent increase in GDP per capita. It is what holds Europe together, by enabling local economic development, inward investment and tourism. We will not build back and recover without restoring air connectivity.”
Karen Dee, chief executive of the UK‘s Airport Operators Association, said: “This report brings into sharp focus the brutal impact that COVID-19 has had on aviation and the urgent need for the UK and devolved governments to work with industry on an aviation recovery package.
“Aviation is an economic enabler, and the loss of routes will hold back our national economic recovery before it has begun. It also puts the UK government’s levelling-up and Global Britain agendas at severe risk."