The recent report from Eurocontrol shows that the European air traffic has been registering increased flight operations these first days of February, despite the negative figures registered during the first month of this year.
The data provided by Eurocontrol on European network traffic shows that from January 9 until February 8, the air traffic has been rising consistently each week, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
The continent registered 16,435 flights per day on February 8. Such figures indicate that the number of flights during this day reached 67.5 per cent of the levels registered during the same period in 2019.
“After a very negative January, February traffic is consistently rising, week-on-week. 16,435 flights in the eurocontrol Network yesterday, and we’re now at 67.5% of the 2019 level,” the Director General of Eurocontrol, Eamonn Brennan, wrote on his official Twitter account, commenting on the positive development.
During this one-month period, from January 9 until February 8, the lowest number of flights per day was registered on January 25, when the airlines operated a total of 13,772.
Nonetheless, the traffic started building again as the number of flights increased in February. Since January 9, the highest number of flights per day was registered on February 4, with 19,524 flights (65.5 per cent of the pre-pandemic period).
Moreover, the figures have revealed that some operators recorded increased flights during this one-month period due to less stringent COVID-19 rules being applied within the EU/Schengen Area.
Of all the airlines, Ryanair showed the most positive trend. The airline registered 1,914 flights per day, +57 per cent over two weeks.
EasyJet also registered an increase of 49 per cent during the two-week period, with 700 flights.
“Traffic starting to build again – notably Ryanair – 1,914 flights/day, +57 per cent over two weeks & just 1 per cent below 2019, and easyJet (700 flights +49 per cent over 2 weeks),” Brennan added.
As for the first week of February, from January 31 until February 6, Eurostat revealed that the United Kingdom (2,786 flights per day), Spain (2,708 flights per day), and Germany (2,807 flights per day) were the top busiest countries.
Previously, the Airports Council International (ACI) showed that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, world airports made progress towards their carbonisation and climate goals. ACI noted that a healthy increase in all regions of the world had been registered.
