In the first month of the new year, passenger demand at German airports is subdued. Compared to the pre-crisis level, at -60,7 percent, significantly more than half of the travelers from 2019 are missing.

Exactly 6.235.251 passengers used the German airports during this period - compared to last January, the volume is significantly higher (+249,6 percent). The inner-German traffic falls to less than a million travelers. With 761.381 passengers (+190,3 percent compared to 2021), demand is only 2019 percent compared to the pre-crisis year 22,8. In European traffic, the volume will quadruple compared to 2021. The 4,09 million passengers mean an increase of +277,4 percent compared to the previous year.

Compared to the pre-crisis level of 2019, this is not even half of normal demand (44,1 percent). Intercontinental demand grew by +219,5 percent to 1,36 million passengers. Compared to December 2019, far less than half (42,3 percent). With 90.782 take-offs and landings, the number of commercial flight movements is twice as high as at the beginning of 2021 (+106,3 percent), but compared to 2019 at -44,6 percent it is also just over half the normal level.

Air freight demand is also at a high level in January, but has lost momentum. With almost 425.136t of cargo handled, growth is +5,2 percent above the previous year. The seasonally weak month of January is directly related to the Chinese New Year (end of January 2022), which is leaving its mark on global logistics. Invitations increased by +4,8 percent to 213.100t (compared to 2019 +10,8 percent). The discharges increase by +5,5 percent to 212.036t (compared to 2019 +12,1 percent).

“The start of the new year was difficult. Demand for air transport falls visibly in January. In all sub-markets, the volume figures are below those of December 2021. The omicron wave and regionally tightening travel restrictions are causing significant traffic losses for the second month in a row. The weak start corresponds to the cautious expectations. However, the significantly higher traffic level compared to January 2021 also fuels hopes for a dynamic recovery. A significant increase in passengers is expected by the start of the Easter travel season at the latest," says the airport association ADV.