Airport Insights

Top 10 European airports for

2022 and 2023 outlook
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

After a slow start to 2022, traffic at European airports bounced back strongly through the year thanks to
a strong northern summer travel period.

At European airports, total passenger throughput nearly doubled in 2022. This occurred despite the
nearly unprecedented operational issues experienced through the peak summer travel months (and
again at the start of the northern winter period), along with near record oil prices, a war in Eastern
Europe, and an uncertain economic outlook denting consumer confidence.

According to ACI Europe, total traffic through its European member airports finished 21% below pre-
pandemic levels. Encouragingly, passenger volumes in Dec-2022 were around 86% of Dec-2019 levels.

As of Jan-2023, 42% of European airports had returned to pre-pandemic traffic volumes. The outlook for
the full year is for traffic at somewhere around 90% of pre-pandemic levels.

2
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

Reordering of European airport traffic in 2022

Along with the rapid recovery in 2022 there was also a significant reordering of Europe’s busiest airports
compared to the previous year. This was in part due to the overall acceleration of the passenger traffic
recovery in Western Europe nations, along with air travel in Russia and parts of Eastern Europe being put
into a tailspin early in the year.

Top 10 European airports by passenger traffic, 2022

2022 Percentage change, Additional

Airport 2022 passengers 2021 rank
rank year-on-year passengers
1 Istanbul Airport 64.5 million 73.5% 27.3 million 1
2 London Heathrow 61.6 million 217.7% 42.2 million 8
3 Paris CDG 57.5 million 119.4% 31.3 million 3
4 Amsterdam Schiphol 52.5 million 105.8% 27.0 million 4
5 Madrid Barajas 50.6 million 109.8% 26.5 million 7
6 Frankfurt Airport 48.9 million 97.2% 24.1 million 6
7 Barcelona-El Prat 41.6 million 120.6% 22.8 million 9
8 London Gatwick 30.8 million 424.6% 26.6 million 36
9 Munich Airport 31.6 million 153.2% 19.1 million 14
10 Rome Fiumicino 29.2 million 151.7% 17.7 million 17

Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation and ACI Europe.

In 2021 three Russian airports – Moscow Domodedovo, Saint Petersburg Pulkovo and Moscow Vnukovo
– were among Europe’s 10 largest when measured by passenger traffic.

Russian air travel rebounded earlier than most other European nations, thanks to a relatively mild
experience with COVID-19 over 2020 and 2021 and the decision of Russian authorities to impose
relatively limited pandemic-related travel restrictions. By the end of 2021, scheduled capacity in the
Russian market was at 91% of 2019 volumes, against a 78% recovery in Europe more broadly.

However, Russia’s travel market recovery underwent a reversal in 2022.

There were two major contributing factors: the double COVID-19 waves the country went through in
early 2022 and again in 3Q2022 – which stalled the recovery of domestic traffic – and the global
response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, cutting off many international markets.

3
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

Russian and European seat capacity recovery (percentage vs 2019)

Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation and OAG.

Following the start of Russia’s ‘Special Military Operation’ on 24-Feb-2022 a series of reciprocal airspace
bans were introduced between Russia and states in Western Europe and North America. International
seat capacity to/from the country fell by more than 50% in less than a month.

Although capacity recovered slowly through 2022 (with Russian airlines pivoting to more friendly
markets), Russian market seat capacity ended the year at just 70% of 2019 volumes. Indications for 2023
are for further progressive recovery, with connectivity with sections of the Asia Pacific still being rebuilt.

Western Europe bounces back

In contrast to the difficulties that developed in Russia, travel through historically strong European
gateways accelerated through 2022 as regional and intercontinental networks were re-established.
The result was that airports like London Gatwick, Rome Fiumicino and Munich International Airport re-
entered the top 10.

The primary driver of the recovery was leisure traffic within Europe and to/from sun destinations around
the Mediterranean. Consumers proved persistently eager to resume leisure travel through 2022 and
spend the funds they had saved during the COVID-19 lockdown periods.

4
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

#1 – Istanbul Airport

Istanbul Airport was Europe’s busiest airport by passengers in 2022 and retained the top spot for a
third consecutive year. The airport, which only opened to passenger services in Apr-2019, handled 64.5
million passengers in 2022, which was up 73.4% year-on-year.

Istanbul Airport: passenger traffic, 2020-2022

Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation and General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMI, Turkey).

The performance at Istanbul Airport was well ahead of the wider air traffic recovery in Turkey (+42% over
the year). Operations at the airport were supported by a strong international market, which grew 83.3%
to 48.9 million for the year.

A large part of this was due to Turkey’s comparatively light COVID-19 measures and border control
restrictions. This supported direct traffic into Turkey – particularly for tourism – as well as growth in
transit passengers.

5
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

With Western Europe walled off to direct flights from Russia, Turkey served as an important destination
for Russian passengers, both for transit and tourism purposes. Russia was Istanbul’s single largest
country market in 2022, with connections to 36 destinations (ahead of the US, with 25).

At Istanbul Airport Russian arrivals were up more than 63% in 2022. Although other points in the country
(such as Ankara) were more heavily visited by Russian nationals, who had been shut out of many
traditional European summer holiday destinations.

Another element of growth for Istanbul was the aggressive expansion of the Turkish home carrier, Turkish
Airlines. The airline accounts for around 80% of seats and 85% of ASKs at Istanbul Airport, and it finished
2022 with seat capacity 7.5% above 2019 levels. It was also Europe’s busiest airline in terms of flights
and international seat capacity for the third consecutive year.

The airline has seized on the post pandemic period to undertake a broad network expansion. During
2022 new routes were added to Seattle, Newark, Dallas, and Vancouver in North America and Bukhara,
Turkistan, Fergana, Urgench, Aktau, Urmia, and Turkmenbashi added in central and Far East Asia. The
airline has identified 24 future routes it intends to launch within the next few years, including eight in
Europe, six in Africa and six in the Americas.

6
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

#2 – London Heathrow Airport

After a rough 2021, thanks to the UK’s struggle with COVID-19, London Heathrow had a distinctly better
2022.

With the UK rapidly reopening to international traffic from mid Mar-2022, London Heathrow added more
passengers than any other airport in Europe over the year. With an extra 42.2 million passengers passing
through its gates, London Heathrow ended 2022 with total passengers around 76% of 2019 volumes.
Dec-2022 volumes were at 86% of pre-pandemic levels.

Activity to/from the EU was the primary driving factor, with arrivals up 193.5% and accounting for a little
over a third of all passengers. The high value transatlantic market also grew rapidly, with 15.4 million
travelling to/from North America (up 361.4%).

Traffic to/from Latin America was 1.7 million (up 317.5%), with passengers to/from the region nearly
matching 2019 levels.

London Heathrow: passenger traffic by area, 2020-2022

Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation and Heathrow Airport.

With such rapid passenger growth, London Heathrow suffered from notable operational disruptions
during the summer peak travel period (like many of its European peers). The situation with flight delays,
cancellations and waiting periods inside terminals was so poor that by Jul-2022 the airport was forced
to introduce a cap of 100,000 daily passenger in an attempt to limit the disruptions.

7
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

London Heathrow: flight cancellations, 2021-2022

Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation and UK Civil Aviation Authority.

In addition, London Heathrow has been on a recruitment drive to address workforce shortages, which
have bottlenecked operational efficiency. Around 25,000 staff have been added since mid-2021,
although employment levels are yet to return to their pre-pandemic heights. Even so, this was enough
that the daily passenger cap was rescinded in late 2022.

London Heathrow airport substantially overshot its initial 2022 passenger forecasts. This was originally
pegged at 45.5 million for the year, and then increased to 52.8 million in Apr-2022. As of Aug-2022, the
airport was projecting traffic of 62.5 million passengers in 2023, which would put it at just over 80% of
2019 volumes.

However, Heathrow also expects the reopening of China to international travel to be a major boon for
2023. The airport has historically been a key gateway for Chinese travellers into the UK and transiting
to other points in Western Europe. Pre-pandemic, London Heathrow had 26 direct connections with
mainland China and accounted for around 40% seats between China and Western Europe.

8
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

#3 – Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport

At France’s best-connected airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), traffic more than doubled over 2022.
Recovering to just over three quarters of its volumes in 2019, the airport handled 57.4 million passengers
(+119.1%, year-on-year).

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport: passenger traffic, 2020-2022

Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation and Groupe ADP.

In keeping with the wider European recovery trend, 2H2022 was much better for Paris CDG in terms of
traffic than earlier in the year. The airport handled 24.8 million passengers over the first half of the year,
and 32.6 million passengers in the second half. 2H2022 traffic was down just 10% compared to 2H2019.

The core of the recovery at Paris was intercontinental travel. According to Paris CDG’s owner Groupe
ADP, European traffic at its two Paris area airports (CDG and Orly) rose 119.2% year-on-year in 2022,
accounting for 45% of total passengers. European traffic from outside the Schengen area and the UK
was particularly strong – up 233%.

In long haul markets North American traffic grew 201%, with the North Atlantic accounting for about 11%
of total passengers. Asia Pacific travel also grew rapidly (+249.6%), although recovery was from a very
small baseline due to the slowness of the market in 2021.

9
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

Paris area airports: passenger traffic by area, 2022

Percentage change
Region Share of traffic Recovery vs 2019
year-on-year
Mainland France 14.40% 46.50% 77.20%
French Overseas Territories 5.40% 54.80% 98.50%
Schengen area 36.70% 113.20% 86.60%
EU ex. Schengen & UK 6.10% 233.30% 76.90%
Other Europe 2.30% 51.30% 55.40%
Europe 45.10% 119.20% 82.80%
Africa 12.70% 96.20% 90.80%
North America 11.20% 201.00% 82.70%
Latin American 3.00% 151.50% 76.70%
Middle East 5.40% 137.80% 83.60%
Asia-Pacific 2.70% 249.60% 33.80%
Other International 35.00% 142.60% 76.30%
Paris Airports total 100.00% 106.70% 80.20%

Source: Groupe ADP.

An indicator of the airport’s recovery was the Dec-2022 reopening of Terminal 1.

After the terminal’s closure at the end of Mar-2020 due to the COVID-19 traffic downturn, Groupe ADP
decided to modernise the facility. Enhancements include a new 5600sqm international travel node –
addressing the previously decentralised nature of international connections at the airport – as well as
more than 2300sqm of new retail space and other enhancements for amenities and links to ground
transport.

With connectivity largely restored and Asia Pacific traffic forecast to continue building through 2023,
Groupe ADP expects traffic for its Paris area airports to be around 85% to 95% of 2019 levels (matching
the wider European recovery).

10
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

#4 – Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, by its own admission, had a poor 2022.

Traffic grew 105.8% year-on-year, to 52.5 million passengers, with European passengers up 95.7%, to
37.1 million, and intercontinental traffic growing 135.5%, to 6.5 million. The airport was also the most
connected in Europe, adding connections to a net 17 destinations during the year, taking its total to 313.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: passengers, 2020-2022

Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation & Royal Schiphol Group.

However, Amsterdam Schiphol was beset by “operational issues” during 2022.

These prevented a fuller recovery and significantly impacted its bottom line. Like many other European
hubs, it suffered from a combination of workforce shortages – particularly in security and baggage
handling – and a more rapid than anticipated recovery in flights and passenger traffic. This resulted in
highly publicised delays/cancellation and long passenger queues.

11
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

To alleviate these problems, a daily passenger movement cap was introduced in Jun-2020, limiting
locally departing passengers during certain peak hours. KLM, which handles around 52% of seats at the
airport, estimated that the cap had reduced its number of locally boarding passengers by 18% for the
summer period to the end of Oct-2022.

Amsterdam Schiphol retained the cap to the end of the northern hemisphere winter schedule in Mar-
2023. KLM deemed this a “hopeless situation”, and estimated that it could cut its locally departing
passengers for the 2022/2023 winter schedule by up to 22%.

At the same time, Royal Schiphol Group has continued to work with unions, ground handling and security
companies to alleviate staffing issues, and introduced “structural solutions” including aircraft movement
limits to resolve bottlenecks.

Amsterdam Schiphol will gradually increase departing passenger levels from late Mar-2023, although
passenger movements for peak morning period will be reduced by 5% for the May-2023 holiday period.
Daily passenger departures for the holiday are expected to average around 66,000 (with peak days
above 70,000), compared to an average of 58,000 in May-2022.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: passengers, 2020-2022

Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation & Royal Schiphol Group.

12
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

According to Amsterdam Schiphol CEO Ruud Sondag, the airport plans to continue to scale up operations
in a “responsible and phased manner, in the interest of those travellers, employees and airlines”, although
it is “not going to take any risks”.

The airport’s management is optimistic that the hub will be able to address remaining staff shortages in
the lead-up to summer 2023, and expects more growth in 2023 – although when full recovery will occur
is still uncertain.

Beyond this, uncertainty remains about the impending Airport Traffic Decree. The Dutch Government
had proposed a scheme reducing the aircraft movement limit at Amsterdam Schiphol from 500,000 to
460,000 per year from Nov-2023, before a further cut to 440,000. However, an injunction has been
imposed on this, following a court challenge by IATA, KLM and other airlines. As a result, the number
of aircraft movements at Amsterdam Schiphol will remain at the 500,000 limit for the 2023 season and
upcoming winter 2023-2024 schedule.

13
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

#5 – Madrid Barajas Airport

Madrid Barajas handled 50.6 million passengers during 2022, 24.1 million more than in 2021. Volumes
were 18% below 2019 for the full year, and traffic over the last two months of 2022 was only 7% below
the same period before the COVID pandemic.

Madrid Barajas Airport: passenger traffic, 2020-2022

Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation and AENA.

Madrid Barajas benefited from Spain’s rapid recovery as a regional and international tourism destination,
thanks to sustained demand for leisure travel. International tourist arrivals into Spain for 2022 were
around 94% of pre-pandemic levels, compared to a recovery of 87% for Europe as a whole.

14
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

Spain & EU27: tourist accommodation arrivals, 2022 (percentage vs 2019)

Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation and Eurostat.

Madrid grew its intra-European network from 57 to 78 destinations over 2022, with strong traffic growth
from its historical source markets, such as France, Italy, the UK and Germany.

LCCs, in particular, exploited the demand for leisure travel. However, with LCCs representing only 15% of
seats at the airport the gain in Madrid was not as significant as in other markets.

Madrid Barajas is Europe’s largest gateway for traffic to/from Latin America and the Caribbean, serving
31 points in Latin America by the end of 2022. Several Latin America airlines, including Aeromexico and
LATAM Airlines, resumed service to Madrid Barajas in 2022.

Iberia, which controls around 47% of seat capacity at Madrid Barajas, reported that its passenger
volumes between Europe and Latin America exceeded pre-pandemic levels during 2022. This included
significant expansion in some markets, including Mexico and Colombia.

Air Europa, which controls around 19% of seats, also focused on Latin America and the Caribbean as a
key market during 2022.

Madrid Barajas reported very positive traffic development during early 2023. Throughput for the first two
months of the year was just 1% below 2019 levels, and forward schedule data shows capacity remaining
marginally behind pre-pandemic levels in the lead-up to the northern summer peak travel period.

15
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

#6 – Frankfurt Airport

Frankfurt Airport handled 48.9 million passengers in 2022 – up 97.2% year-on-year. As with much of
Europe, 2022 started slowly for the airport, and then there was an uptick in leisure traffic as COVID-19
restrictions were unwound.

Growth at Frankfurt peaked during the summer travel period, with traffic growing at triple digit rates. The
rate of recovery moderated from Sep-2022 onwards, slowing to around 40-50% year-on-year.
The airport operator Fraport AG also noted that demand for business travel “recovered steadily towards
the end of the year”– an encouraging sign for 2023.

Frankfurt Airport: passenger traffic, 2020-2022

Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation and Fraport AG.

Intra-European traffic accounted for better than 60% of all passengers at Frankfurt for 2022, and was up
80% for the year.

Notable growth was experienced to/from sun destinations in Western Europe, including Portugal, Spain,
France and Greece. Traffic volumes were not only solid over the peak holiday period, but consumers
continued to seek out leisure travel in the shoulder seasons.

16
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

Intercontinental travel grew 135%, fed by Lufthansa rebuilding its network and reactivating widebody
aircraft, as well as foreign airlines returning to Frankfurt. North America was the largest intercontinental
market and also experienced particularly rapid growth (+158% year-on-year), while the African market
rose 111.5% and Middle East traffic rose 109%.

Travel to/from the Asia Pacific grew 179.2%, although much of the growth was weighted towards the last
third of 2022 as countries in the region ended border closures and relaxed restrictive health measures
and other policies.

Frankfurt Airport: passenger traffic by area, 2022

Percentage change
Region Share of traffic
year-on-year
Continental Europe 63.2% 80.0%
Germany 8.3% 95.9%
Europe (ex. Germany) 54.9% 77.9%
Western Europe 48.4% 84.6%
Eastern Europe 6.6% 40.4%
Intercontinental 36.8% 135.2%
Africa 5.2% 111.5%
Middle East 5.9% 109.1%
North America 15.0% 158.0%
Central & South America 4.1% 88.8%
Far East 6.1% 179.2%

Australia 0.0% -88.9%

Source: Fraport AG.

Fraport AG CEO Dr Stefan Schulte reported in early 2023 that the group was “confident to see further
growth in 2023,” with travel demand remaining strong.

However, the situation “remains challenging”, with Dr Schulte pointing to the stresses of the rapid ramp-
up of passenger operations and ensuring the “best possible airport experience” for passengers.

17
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

#7 – Barcelona-El Prat Airport

Barcelona-El Prat handled 41.6 million passengers in 2022, which was growth of 120.6% year-on-year.

The second largest airport in Spain, having a location on the country’s northeastern Mediterranean
coast, Barcelona-El Prat is a key gateway for tourism arrivals from the rest of Europe.

As of the start of 2023, Barcelona was connected to 98 European destinations. With links to 28 domestic
destinations, the airport also serves as an important hub for onward flights into the rest of Spain and the
Canary Islands.

Barcelona-El Prat Airport: passenger traffic, 2020-2022

Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation and Aena.

With LCCs in expansion mode over 2022, Barcelona-El Prat benefited from its strong low cost market
share. LCCs accounted for roughly 53% of ASKs, 72% of seats and 73% of aircraft movements in 2022
and added just short of 80% of additional passengers at the airport for the year.

Growth was particularly strong for large European source markets such as Italy, France, Germany, UK,
and Poland.

Vueling handled 42% of traffic at the airport in 2022, while Wizz Air, easyJet and Ryanair added significant
capacity to the airport over the year. For full service carriers, growth was led by Iberia, British Airways
and Lufthansa.

18
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

Barcelona El-Prat: top 10 airlines by seats added (Dec-2021 vs Dec-2022)

Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation and OAG.

For the winter schedule, the Spanish national airports operator Aena projects that Barcelona-El Prat will
handle scheduled seats of 21.6 million, which is around 3% above 2019 levels.

Capacity for the 2023 summer schedule is forecast at around 37.2 million seats, approximately 93% of
pre-pandemic volumes.

For Spain more generally, Aena expects the domestic market and Latin America to perform most strongly
in summer 2023, with growth of 15% and 11% compared to summer 2019. Other strong markets are
expected to include Morocco (+60%), Poland (+46%), and Portugal (+30%).

19
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

#8 – London Gatwick Airport

After languishing as Europe’s 36th largest airport in 2021, London Gatwick returned to the top ten in
2022.

The airport served 32.8 million passengers in 2022, which was up from just 6.3 million passengers the
previous year (+420.6% year-on-year). Traffic reached 71% of the volume handled in 2019, with summer
month peaks at around 80-85% of pre-pandemic levels.

London Gatwick Airport: passenger traffic, 2020-2022

Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation and Gatwick Airport.

London Gatwick reported a significant recovery in short haul flying during 2022.

easyJet, the largest airline presence at the airport, built its network back to 98 destinations and even
went as far as to lease take-off and landing slots from British Airways to support its growth.

Other LCCs significantly expanded their operations, with Wizz Air increasing its network from five to 24
destinations and Vueling increasing its offer at Gatwick from seven to 16 destinations. The tourism and
charter operator TUI Airways supported flights to 50 destinations, broadly matching its 2019 network.

20
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

The airport also reported an increase in its long haul connectivity, with British Airways, Emirates Airline,
WestJet and JetBlue Airways expanding capacity and several airlines launching new routes. As of mid-
2022, there were 35 long haul routes in operation at the airport. By early 2023, the airport had rebuilt
its intercontinental network to 42 long haul routes.

For 2023, Gatwick is projecting traffic of around 40 million passengers (around 85% of 2019 volumes).
The airport notes that significant uncertainty remains around the medium term outlook, thanks to macro-
economic headwinds, but it remains confident in a long term recovery.

21
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

#9 – Munich Airport

Munich Airport handled 31.7 million passengers in 2022, adding nearly 19.2 million new passengers over
the year.

Volumes rose 153.6% year-on-year, with total traffic reaching 66% of pre-pandemic levels.

Domestic passengers recovered to 50% of 2019 volumes, with 4.8 million passengers. International
traffic was 70% of 2019 levels, with 26.8 million passengers.

Munich Airport: passenger traffic, 2020-2022

Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation and Munich Airport.

Munich Airport substantially rebuilt its airline operator base over 2022, with 26 airlines resuming services
during the year (taking its operator base to 90 airlines). Traffic to long haul destinations to the US,
Singapore, South Korea, India and Thailand were back at pre-pandemic levels by late 2022.

22
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

Munich’s network grew from 187 to 210 destinations. Destinations in Europe rose from 143 to 153 over
the year – growth largely occurred with the transition to the northern summer schedule. Intercontinental
destinations grew from 29 to 43. The airport’s domestic network was static, at 15 destinations.

Key developments for the upcoming summer schedule include expansion by Lufthansa. The airline is
re-introducing the A380 to its fleet and adding destinations in the Asia Pacific, returning its network to
near pre-pandemic levels. Also notable is the return of Asia Pacific airlines, such as All Nippon Airways
and Air China.

Munich Airport CEO Jost Lammers reported that ticket bookings as of early 2023 indicate that traffic
growth at Munich Airport will continue this year, and it is “well on track” to return to its pre-crisis level.

23
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

#10 – Rome Fiumicino Airport

Rome Fiumicino handled 29.4 million passengers in 2022 – up 151.7% year-on-year and around 76% of
2019 levels.

Italy’s largest airport, Rome Fiumicino caters to domestic, international and intercontinental flights but
has suffered from Italy’s protracted battle with COVID-19 and the protracted failure of Alitalia and slow
transfer to the new flag carrier ITA.

Rome Fiumicino Airport: passenger traffic, 2020-2022

Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation and Aeroporti di Roma.

Outbound traffic by Italian citizens proved particularly important for the airport’s recovery, notably for
short haul travel to other European destinations. Passenger traffic to other EU destinations reached 94%
of 2019 levels as of Dec-2022.

The recovery of traffic to/from North America was also substantial, reaching 80% of 2019 levels for the
full year. The three main US airlines (Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines) all reinforced
capacity at Rome Fiumicino, while Air Canada and Air Transat returned during 2022 and WestJet added
its first route during summer 2022.

24
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

Traffic to/from the Middle East almost reached pre-pandemic levels, with Gulf Air adding a new route and
Wizz Air resuming services to several destinations in the region.

However, domestic travel remained sluggish in 2022, with traffic at just 64% of 2019 levels. Despite
ongoing improvement in travel to destinations in southern Italy, the airport operator Aeroporti di Roma
(AdR) reported that a lack of capacity continues to impact domestic travel when compared to other
European hubs.

AdR anticipates a strong recovery of Asia Pacific travel at Rome Fiumicino, with routes restored to South
Korea, Australia, India and the Maldives in late 2022 and more destinations in Japan and India announced
for 2023. Five routes to mainland China have also resumed since early 2023, although performance to
the market remains “embryonic”.

AdR CEO Marco Troncone reported in Mar-2023 that 35 new routes were due to be added over the
2023 summer schedule. These will take the network at the airport to more than 200 destinations across
more than 70 countries and “confirm a trend of progressive growth”.

Asia Pacific connectivity will continue to gradually expand, with further destinations in “strategic areas”
such as North and South America, Africa and the Middle East returning. This will help return traffic “very
close” to pre-pandemic levels, according to Mr Troncone.

25
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

European airports: 2023 outlook

For 2023, the European outlook is for steady recovery over the first third of the year, building into a busy
summer peak travel period between June and August, which could mean total traffic returning to close
to pre-pandemic levels across much of the continent.

With airport, airlines, ANSPs and other stakeholders having expanded workforces, there will hopefully
be enough resources available to avoid a repeat of 2022’s disruptions over the upcoming peak travel
period.

ACI Europe’s projections are that European passenger traffic will end 2023 somewhere around 85-95%
of 2019 levels, with EUROCONTROL forecasts indicating that flight numbers could even exceed pre-
pandemic levels.

26
Airport Insights: Top 10 European airports for 2022 and 2023 outlook

ACI Europe & EURCONTROL: traffic and flights outlooks for Europe for 2023

Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation, ACI Europe and EUROCONTROL.

However, notable variation in recovery across Europe still exists between subregions, national markets
and even from airport to airport.

In 2021 and 2022 airports that generally had the strongest recoveries were generally those with networks
tilted towards domestic and short haul international destinations, particularly with a leisure focus, as well
as airports with a strong LCC presence.

Airports with slow performance were generally those located in countries that had stronger than usual
COVID-19 travel restrictions, or had significant exposure to Asian travel market, or those that suffered
from disruptions related to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis.

With leisure travel proving resilient, business travel returning and recent consumer trends continuing to
favour short haul travel, Europe’s airports are expected to report another bumper year for travel.

As the Asia Pacific opens up, long haul travel to key global transport hubs like London Heathrow, Istanbul
Airport, Frankfurt, Amsterdam Schiphol and Paris CDG is expected to reinforce the position of these
airports at the top of the pile in Europe through 2023 and onwards.

27
 Discover
CAPA Membership

Become a CAPA Member and find

the information you need quickly for
actionable insights.
• Unrivalled Analysis
• Personalised News Alerts
• Intuitive, comprehensive and up to date Data

Informative and customised market analysis and powerful data

to keep you ahead of the game.

SCAN TO
LEARN MORE

centreforaviation.com/membership