Passenger traffic at Spanish airports tops pre-pandemic levels

June 12 (Reuters) – Passenger traffic at Aena’s Spanish airports exceeded pre-pandemic levels in May for the fifth consecutive month, while other European terminals still operate at a lower capacity than in 2019.

More than 25 million passengers transited Spanish airports in May, or 3.4% more than in the same period in 2019 and also 14% more than in the corresponding month last year.

In the first five months of the year, Aena airports handled almost 103 million passengers, or 28% more than in 2022, and 2.3% more than in 2019.

Passenger traffic at European airports in April was the closest to a full recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic of any month yet despite sharp hikes in air fares, but still a bit lower, Airports Council International (ACI) Europe has said.

May was also the busiest month for Britain’s Heathrow since the pandemic broke out, though passenger numbers are still slightly below those of four years ago.

Photo – An airplane prepares for land off at Manises airport, in Valencia, eastern Spain. EPA-EFE/Manuel Bruque