Istanbul airport named Europe's busiest airport in 2021 with almost 37 million passengers

annual report of Airports Council International (ACI) Europe suggests that Istanbul Airport is named busiest airport in Europe in year 2021, with almost 37 million passengers. As per reports of Sputnik, Istanbul airport welcomed 36,988,563 passengers in 2021, followed by Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport with 30,943,456 passengers, Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport with 26,201,698 passengers, and Amsterdam-Schiphol and Moscow-Domodedovo making in top five.

While passenger volume at European airports climbed by 37% in 2021 compared to 2020, it was still 59% below pre-pandemic levels in 2019.  statistics revealed that in 2021, European travel sector lost 1.4 billion passengers compared to pre-pandemic levels. Last year, despite pandemic limitations, Istanbul Airport ranked top among European airports by passenger volume in 2020, with more than 20 million passengers. In 2019, Istanbul Airport took over as new hub for Turkish Airlines (THY), replacing old Atatürk Airport. Istanbul's or airports, Sabiha Gökçen, and Antalya Airport of Mediterranean resort city Antalya ranked seventh and ninth, according to Daily Sabah.

Expectations for a robust comeback in 2021

ACI Europe Director General Olivier Jankovec stated that following loss of 1.72 billion passengers in 2020, y all had great expectations for a robust comeback in 2021, according to Daily Sabah. However, he furr said that compared to 2019, Europe's airports lost additional 1.4 billion passengers last year which suggests y are still under a lot of pressure, and industry's financial system is fragile. 

ACI Europe stated that delta variant of coronavirus essentially shut down passenger traffic in first half of 2021. introduction of vaccines, along with EU Digital COVID Certificates and reopening of transatlantic market in vember, resulted in passenger traffic improving in second half of year, which is still 42.4% lower than in 2019 but Omicron variant again disrupted aviation industry in December.

Omicron's influence is still on

Olivier Jankovec also said that for time being, Omicron's influence is still on, as airlines continue to reduce flights and capacity to reduce risk of transmission, according to Daily Sabah. He furr stated that this indicates that traffic will be poor in first quarter of 2022, but should improve as Spring approaches.

Im: AP