ACI’s 2020 traffic rankings reveal Covid-19’s damaging effect on world’s busiest airports
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29th April 2021
Figures show that domestic travel is slowly recovering, with international routes still falling behind due to the current restrictions
Airports Council International (ACI) World has published its global traffic rankings – including passenger numbers, cargo volumes and aircraft movements – for 2020, which highlight the impact of the pandemic on the world’s busiest hubs.
According to the data, China’s Guangzhou Baiyun International recorded the most travellers, followed by Atlanta/Hartsfield Jackson in the US.
Overall, global passenger traffic at the top ten busiest hubs declined by 45.7% in 2020. Domestic travel is beginning to take a positive turn, whereas worldwide journeys remain enervated due to the current restrictions.
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ACI World director general Luis Felipe de Oliveira has warned that the industry is still “bleeding” as a result of the pandemic and continues to face an existential threat.
Speaking at Routes Reconnected on April 26, he called on governments to provide more direct support for airports and adopt a consistent approach that will enable the industry to rebuild connectivity and fuel economic recovery.
“In certain countries we’re seeing airlines receive strong financial packages to continue their operations,” he said. “That’s obviously good as airports need airlines to be in good financial shape to bring passengers back.
“However, we’re seeing a huge difference in terms of the packages that airlines are receiving the package that the airports have received.
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Overall, passenger traffic at the world’s airports fell by 64.6 per cent last year. ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira says the data “reveals the challenge airports continue to face”. “The findings show that the impact remains uneven with different regions experiencing different challenges and requiring different policy decisions and support from governments to lay the foundation for recovery,” said de Oliveira. “With some positive signs of recovery, especially in countries with high rates of vaccination, a sustained global recovery will only be realised with an escalation of vaccination campaigns, the continued development of digital health passes, and coordinated and cohesive policy support from governments.”