Passenger numbers at airports are close to pre-pandemic levels – Economy

5.3 million passengers moved through national airports in May 2022, which corresponds to a discrepancy of 319.8% compared to the same period in 2021. This year’s figures are close to those recorded in May 2019, before the Covid-19 epidemic, but they still stand. Below, a decrease of 3.9%.

In terms of cargo and mail, 19.6 thousand tons were handled at Portuguese airports, which is an increase of 20.7% compared to the same period in 2021 and by 7.9% compared to 2019.

On average, 87.1 thousand passengers disembarked per day at airports, approaching the value observed in May 2019 (90.6 thousand). Of the total number of passengers disembarked in May 2022, 82.1% correspond to international traffic, with the majority (70.7%) coming from the European continent. As for passengers on board, 81.5% of them represent international traffic, and 72% are bound for airports on the European continent.

In the first five months of this year, the number of passengers increased by 434.4% (-15.5% compared to the same period in 2019), “a continuation of the trend of approaching levels recorded in the pre-pandemic period,” according to the institute. .. Of the total number of passengers, 9.4 million, Lisbon Airport handled 50.5%, a growth of 465.8% compared to the same period in 2021. “However, looking at the three airports with the highest annual passenger traffic,” Faro recorded the largest increase (+ 847.7%)”, INE details.

Between January and May 2022, the UK was the country of origin for flights, with an annual growth of 966.4% in the number of passengers disembarked. France came in second place after registering an increase of 381.9% compared to the same period in 2021.

“The attitudes of these two countries are inverted in terms of destination, with France taking first place and the United Kingdom in second place, and Spain in third place, as the main country of origin and destination,” the institute says.

20100 planes landed in May
In May 2022, 20,100 commercial flights landed at national airports, the equivalent of 5.3 million passengers – including boarding, disembarkation and direct transit. Compared to May 2019, there were -3.6% differences in the number of aircraft crashed, -3.9% in the number of passengers handled, and +7.9% in freight and mail traffic.