Basel Airport handled around 3,6 million passengers last year. Compared to 2020, an increase of 39 percent was achieved, but it was 60 percent below the pre-crisis level. In 2019 they still had 9,1 million travelers and achieved an all-time record.
At the beginning of 2021, passenger numbers were still at a very low level. As a result of the decline in the number of cases and the lifting of travel restrictions, the travel situation eased from the summer. The second half of the year saw around 60% of 2019 passengers, and up to 80% on weekends compared to 2019. The total number of flight movements was 64, including almost 031 commercial flights.
In 2021, the total cargo volume increased by 10% to 119 tons (previous year: 000 tons, 108.500: 2019 tons). The growth is particularly pronounced in express freight (+106.100%/14), while general freight has increased by +2020% in full freight and by 12% in truck freight.
How quickly passenger traffic will actually recover depends primarily on the development of the pandemic, in particular the emergence of new virus variants and the resulting travel restrictions. Against this background, it is difficult to make reliable traffic forecasts. It should be noted that the situation can quickly change in one direction or another.
Among the conceivable traffic development scenarios, the 2022 budget assumes 6,2 million passengers in the next year, which is 68% of 2019. This will enable EuroAirport to further consolidate its financial stability and invest more again, provided that the development of the pandemic allows this. As it has done during the past two years of crisis, the airport will do its utmost to welcome its passengers in the best possible conditions.