The report ACI Europe 2023 on airport connectivity shows that Europe is lagging behind in terms of traffic recovery. It also reveals how post-COVID recovery models are having an impact on the aviation market. They also affect passengers and communities for whom connectivity meets mobility needs and brings significant economic and social benefits. Total air connectivity has still not been restored more than three years after the start of the pandemic.
Low-cost favours direct routes at the expense of connections
Total air connectivity in EuropeIn other words, direct and indirect connectivity combined, is still down 16 % compared with pre-pandemic levels (2019). The persistent performance gap between direct and indirect connectivity indicates significant changes.
While direct routes have almost returned to their pre-pandemic levels (-4%), connecting opportunities are still lower than in 2019 (-22%).. According to ACIThis reflects a recovery in traffic sustained by the significant expansion of very low-cost carriers - point-to-point traffic. At the same time, ACI notes a relative decline in the number of traditional carriers.
This means that travellers at European airports continue to have fewer options, while the increase in air fares is more than six times higher than consumer price inflation.
A direct comparison with the upturn in air passenger traffic shows that connectivity is clearly lagging behind, European passenger traffic is currently -7.6 % below pre-pandemic levels.
ACI notes that European traffic is still sustained by the request for leisure flights - which explains the strong growth of low-cost. In addition the relative decline of traditional carriers and theimpact of the war in Ukraine.
Southern European markets more resilient
Only five national markets exceeded pre-pandemic connectivity levels: Turkey (+19%), Cyprus (+17%), Bosnia-Herzegovina (+8%), Albania (+7%) and Greece (+4%).
Among the major EU markets+, the United Kingdom (-10%) is the best performer along with Spain (-12%), followed by Italy (-16%). France (-17%) is in the middle, while Germany (-27%) is in last place..
Other EU+ markets such as the Czech Republic (-44%) and Finland (-40%) are far from having regained their connectivity levels. With the war, Ukraine has lost all commercial air connectivity, with its airspace and airports closed.
International sanctions in response to the war in Ukraine led to significant losses of air connectivity in Belarus (-82 %) and Russia (-34 %).
From differences on national markets are emerging, often linked to the power of the network companies as well as the low-cost. ACI Europe notes that direct connections have almost returned to 2019 levels, at -4%. On the other hand, connecting activity is still much lower than in 2019.
Indirect connectivity stood at -22% and the connectivity of the airports themselves was -25%. This result can be attributed to direct low-cost routes, up 12% on 2019. On the other hand, traditional airlines lost 13% of their direct routes.. Only the major hubs are protected, with direct connectivity up by 66%.
Istanbul, Amsterdam and London Heathrow dominate
This is the case for Istanbul, Amsterdam-Schiphol and London-Heathrow airports in the lead for direct connectivity. Istanbul has replaced Amsterdam-Schiphol as the airport with the highest level of direct connectivity in Europe.
The Turkish hub exceeded its pre-pandemic level of direct connectivity by +9%. Istanbul has seen an increase of 32% over the last 10 years. This figure is essentially due to the growth of the Turkish Airlines network.
The direct connectivity of Amsterdam-Schiphol is 8% lower than in the pre-pandemic period.. However, it remains the best for direct flights within Europe.
London-Heathrow remains in third place, with a direct connectivity of -5 % compared with the pre-pandemic period.. The UK hub remains the most efficient for direct routes to North America and Asia-Pacific.
Roissy CDG has 11% less direct connectivity compared with the pre-pandemic period. Orly is at -6% but with a smaller network of destinations than CDG.
With the notable exception of Istanbul's performance, the European market is characterised by a systemic reduction in hub connectivity. Frankfurt leads the world in hub connectivity. However, its level of connectivity remains 23 % below 2019.
Helsinki (-61%) and Rome-Fiumicino (-60%) have both seen their connectivity levels fall considerably. since the pandemic. The former is suffering from the war in Ukraine, which has had an impact on Finnair's Asian network. The second is faced with a national carrier, ITA Airways, with a smaller network than that of its predecessor, Alitalia.
Stockholm-Arlanda (-54%), Warsaw (-43%), Brussels (-40%) and Munich (-37%) have also experienced significant losses in connectivity. Only a few smaller, niche platforms are exceeding their pre-pandemic connectivity levels. These includeIstanbul-Sabiha Gökçen (+37%), Athens (+33%), Lisbon (+4%) and Dublin (+3%).
