Europe’s airports are facing a “polycrisis” situation as they battle to decarbonize, against geopolitical and macroeconomic risks that could threaten demand.
Eurocontrol Director General Raúl Medina says the industry is better prepared than summer 2022, when staff shortages contributed to widespread disruption.
ACI Europe Director General Olivier Jankovec also says that airport charges are up 7% compared with before the pandemic, while airfares have risen by 32%.
The European Parliament has approved the introduction of a 75/25 slot rule for winter 2022/23, ahead of returning to the standard 80/20 ‘use it or lose it’ rule in summer 2023.
The progressive reopening of long-haul markets will see Europe’s passenger traffic rebound in 2022, but the pace of recovery is happening at two speeds and air connectivity remains “markedly degraded” compared with 2019 levels.