In December 2021, passenger demand at German airports continued to decline. Compared to the pre-crisis level, at -53,4 percent, more than half of the travelers from 2019 are missing.

A total of 7.926.629 passengers used German airports - compared to December 2020, the volume figures are at a significantly higher level (+283,6 percent). At 108.873 take-offs and landings, the number of commercial flight movements is +113,9 percent above the previous year, but compared to 2019 at -32,4 percent is still well below the normal level.

Traffic within Germany falls below one million - with 995.427 passengers (+193,4 percent compared to 2020), demand is only 2019 percent compared to the year before the crisis (29,8). In European traffic, the volume will quadruple compared to 2020. The 5,28 million passengers mean an increase of +306,8 percent compared to the previous year. Compared to the pre-crisis level of 2019, this corresponds to just over half of normal demand (52,2 percent). Intercontinental demand grew by +291 percent to 1,63 million passengers. Compared to December 2019, this is not even half (47,8 percent).

“At the end of the year, air transport demand continues to develop negatively. Although there is a small recovery over Christmas and the turn of the year, the total number of passengers falls compared to the two previous months. The omicron wave and tightening travel restrictions prevent travel. This means that no demand for air traffic can develop and the planes remain empty. Nevertheless, the traffic level is not collapsing as much as in December 2020,” summarizes the airport association ADV in its monthly statistics.

Air freight demand, on the other hand, is also at a record level in December – despite the public holidays. With almost 495.361t of cargo handled, growth is +10,3 percent above the December value of the previous year. While other modes of transport had to struggle with various problems due to the corona, air freight performed at an above-average level - every 12 months. A new annual high was reached with 5.405.841t. This corresponds to a growth rate of +17,4 percent. Invitations increased by 18,7 percent to 2.783.337t (compared to 2019 +12,1 percent). The discharges increase by +16,2 percent to 2.622.502t (compared to 2019 +13,0 percent).