The first weeks of 2022 show that the corona pandemic continues to have the airports under control. The still high number of infections and travel restrictions are slowing down demand. The years 2020 and 2021 already led to severe traffic slumps. In 2021, only slightly more than 30 percent of the pre-crisis level of passengers could be reached. Compared to the pre-crisis level of 2019, that was 170 million fewer passengers. Nevertheless, the optimism for a trend reversal and the hope for easing, which will also benefit air traffic, prevail. Currently, the weekly volume at all German airports together is just over one million passengers.

“The pandemic continues to depress the overall volume. We are now only at a third of normal levels. Airlines are currently continuing to cut their offers because demand simply cannot recover due to the pandemic. The complicated travel restrictions and the high number of infections caused by the omicron wave are hampering passenger demand. A constantly changing patchwork of country-specific corona regulations unsettles travelers. High case numbers in the travel destination areas are also proving to be a demand killer," says Ralph Beisel, Managing Director of the Airport Association ADV.

Nevertheless: representative surveys by the airport association ADV show that people's need for mobility is unbroken. Decisive factors for booking a flight are the easing of official travel restrictions. “There is a lot of pent-up demand for vacation travel. We are currently hoping for a revival in Easter travel. The easing of the corona requirements that has been decided in many countries makes us hopeful," says Beisel.

In the cargo area, the volume has declined slightly for the first time in over a year, but is still well over 100.000 tons per week. No reason for concern for Beisel: “The more than 102.000t of goods handled in the first week of February are a high value. The seasonal decline in cargo figures at the end of January/beginning of February is directly related to the Chinese New Year, which is leaving its mark on global logistics. The maintenance of the logistics chains and thus the securing of the basic supply show the enormous importance for the German economy and society. The airports have not only made a valuable contribution here during the pandemic.”