Last year marked the end of a decade of consistent growth in global passenger traffic. COVID-19 crisis had an unprecedented impact on airport traffic In this context, the current document seeks to highlight some key figures in terms of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on airport traffic and revenues and pathways to recovery. As such, ACI is supportive of any system which will allow testing and vaccination data to be shared consistently, effectively and in a way that protects the personal data of those that use it.ĭespite positive signs and prospects for recovery, COVID-19 remains an existential crisis for airports, airlines and their commercial partners. One of the keys to supporting a sustained recovery will be the establishment of an interoperable health data trust framework to facilitate safe border reopening and cross-border travel. Many industry surveys have shown that “vacation deprivation” combined with an upsurge in confidence in air travel provided by vaccination and safety measures should result in the number of people traveling outside of their countries will start this spring and significantly increase by mid-year. The possibility that summer vacations abroad may happen this year is more likely than ever. Since the first vaccine dose was administered in late 2020, more than 450 million doses have been administered across more than 130 countries. Airports have introduced many new health and biosafety measures to help ensure the health and safety of passengers, and that airport customer experience reflects their changing expectations and addresses their concerns.Īirports and airlines are united in the call for governments to partner with the industry to prepare to restart global connectivity when the epidemiological situation allows, and the unprecedented global vaccination effort offers a beacon of hope that a return to normality is a possibility in the near future. The health, safety and wellbeing of passengers and staff is the aviation industry’s number one priority. Practically all aspects of economic and social activity were, and are still, disrupted. Researchers have recently estimated that the world has lost 20.5 million years of life because of premature COVID-19 deaths, and this number will just continue to increase.Īlong with the human tragedy, the crisis has also resulted in dramatic damage to the global economy, trade, and mobility.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak started, more than 2.7 million people have died worldwide due this virus. It is clear that the impact of this crisis reaches way beyond aviation.
It became quickly evident that it would evolve in a crisis like no others bringing the industry into survival mode, impaired by the loss of traffic and revenues. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a full-scale global transportation crisis. Air transport has remained one of the hardest-hit global industries since the very beginning of the crisis.
Since then, daily life across the globe has changed. Montreal, 25 March 2021 – Airports Council International (ACI) World has published its sixth assessment analyzing the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, its effects on the global airport business, and the path to recovery.Ī year ago, on 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic.