In its latest bulletin covering the week from 26 June to 2 July, Eurocontrol indicates that air traffic in Europe recorded 32,998 average daily flights. This represents an increase of 8% compared with 2022, or 93%, in the level of movements recorded in 2019. Over June as a whole, the level of movements represented 92% of the pre-pandemic period.
30 June 2023, movements in the area monitored by Eurocontrol even recorded a record. The skies over Europe have seen 34,042 flightsThis figure is still 8.5 % below the record for the busiest day in the network's history on 28 June 2019. The 5 largest aviation markets in terms of the number of movements during the week of 26/06) were the United Kingdom (6,122 flights), Spain (5,337 flights), Germany (5 245), France (4,793) and Italy (4 345). These countries recorded an increase in the number of movements compared with the same week in 2022, ranging from +1% to +3%.
However, there are a number of reasons for this, only Spain and Italy have figures close to pre-Covid levels with a difference of -2% and -1% respectively in the volume of movements. La France and the United Kingdom for their part a smaller volume respectively of 7% and 8% compared with 2019. While air traffic in Germany remains well below its pre-Covid performance, at -18%.
Company side, Ryanair is the leading airline in terms of number of flight movements. The low-cost carrier has an average of 3,273 daily flights, up 25% on 2019. EasyJet followed with 1,732 movements, down 8% on 2019. Turkish Airlines ranked 3rd (1,685 flights +13%), Lufthansa 4th (1,247 flights -23%) and the Air France Group 5th -1,102 flights -18%).
Punctuality at a low ebb
On the other hand, flight punctuality is a cause for concern. This is down sharply on 2019. The figure for outbound flights was 59.5% for the week from 26/06 to 02/07. compared with 62.6% in 2019. However, it is almost 12 points higher than the same week in 2022 (47.7%). Arrival punctuality is 67.5% compared with 70.2% in 2019. In 2022, it was 55.4%.
Eurocontrol also notes that the price of paraffin closed at USD 2.32/gallon on 30 June 2023, down 25 % on the start of the year. Which is hardly reflected in ticket prices!
