Number of passengers’ plummets by 95 % in Asian airports
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Asia’s airports have reached “rock bottom” almost four months into the Covid-19 pandemic, with the number of passengers at about 5 per cent of last year’s figures, the global airports’ representative has said.
Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific said new data up to mid-April from 18 of its hubs in “major aviation markets” showed a 95 per cent collapse in passenger volumes year on year.
Hong Kong International Airport was on track for a 99.5 per cent decline, according to preliminary official data.
A combination of worldwide travel restrictions, bans on non-residents, bans on stopovers, and mandatory quarantine measures for arrivals had seen people cancel trips abroad, hitting airlines and airports alike hard, tipping the industry into crisis.
“Passenger traffic in Asia-Pacific region has reached rock bottom. Airports have been forced to make difficult operational decisions including full or partial closure of terminals and runways, and reduction of frontline employees,” Stefano Baronci, director general of ACI Asia-Pacific, said.
“These drastic measures take time to reverse. Returning to full operational status will not happen overnight.”
Baronci’s group represents 113 members operating 602 airports in 49 countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.
