Air connectivity in Europe has not returned to pre-Covid level

ACI reports connectivity in the EU to be 13% down on 2019

Air connectivity in Europe remains 14% down on the level of 2019 despite a near full recovery of air traffic and passenger numbers, according to airports association ACI Europe.

The association’s latest Airport Industry Connectivity Report, published last week, describes the improvement in connectivity this year from 16% down on pre-pandemic levels in 2023 as “weak” and suggests “geopolitical tensions and structural changes in the aviation market are resulting in altered connectivity patterns”.

The report assesses direct connectivity – meaning direct flights and frequencies to destinations – indirect flights via hub airports, and the total connectivity of these together.

It reports connectivity in the EU to be 13% down on 2019 and connectivity across non-EU markets in Europe 20% down.

However, air connectivity from the UK is down by less at 12%, half the shortfall in Germany (24%) and lower than in France (15%) and connectivity from Heathrow is just 2% down and “nearly fully recovered to the direct connectivity levels” of 2019.

The association notes Heathrow “remains unrivalled for its direct connectivity to North America, which is nearly twice that of its next competitor Paris Charles de Gaulle”.

Olivier Jankovec, ACI Europe director general, described air connectivity as “essential” and said: “Policymakers must address the factors that will shape Europe’s air connectivity, including climate action and airline consolidation.”

The association notes the war in Ukraine has erased Ukraine’s air connections and slashed Russia’s, while Israel’s air connectivity remains 42% down on 2019 owing to its war on Gaza.

But it also reports connectivity in Scandinavia, central and eastern Europe is down on 2019 – by 37% in Finland, 31% in Sweden, 29% in Slovenia, and 28% in Austria and the Czech Republic.

By contrast, air connectivity in Turkey is 24% up on 2019, Greece 22% up and Albania 55% up.

Connectivity in Europe’s biggest holiday market Spain is just 2% down and in neighbouring Portugal 4% up.

ACI Europe reports 17% growth in connectivity at Athens airport, 8% at Palma de Mallorca, and 3% at Lisbon.

The report ranks Istanbul airport top for connectivity, with connections up 9% on 2019, Amsterdam Schiphol second, 6% down on 2019, and Heathrow third and “almost at the same level as Schiphol”.

However, Frankfurt remains the best-connected hub airport in the world, ahead of Dallas Fort Worth and Istanbul despite its connectivity being 23% below the pre-pandemic level.