The airport industry briefing
The latest news, views and numbers you need to know this month
News in Numbers
£2.6bn
UK airports could lose at least £2.6bn in revenue over summer 2021 due to ongoing Covid-19 travel restrictions, according to the Airport Operators Association.
90%
Passenger numbers at London’s Heathrow Airport are at 90% below pre-pandemic levels as of May 2021.
76.1%
The airports in Spain’s Aena network saw a 76.1% drop in passengers in May 2021 compared to May 2019.
28 million
Dubai Airport expects 28 million passengers this year as it proceeds with reopening its Terminal 1 in late June.
2050
Industry association Sustainable Aviation has set out its interim decarbonisation targets aiming for net-zero aviation by 2050.Targets include a 15% reduction in net emissions relative to 2019 by 2030, and a 40% net reduction by 2040.
2030
Perth Airport in Australia has set a target to become carbon neutral by 2030.
Projects
Ljubljana passenger terminal set to open
Fraport has inaugurated a new passenger terminal at Ljubljana Airport in Slovenia. Following two years of construction, with an investment of €21m, the new terminal opened to passenger traffic on 1 June. The new terminal doubles the airport’s passenger capacity to handle more than 1,200 passengers per hour.
Schiphol departure hall renovation complete
Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands has completed the renovation of its departure hall 1. Upgrades include a new mezzanine floor to offer more space for security, check-in and waiting areas.
LAX expands capacity with terminal extension
Los Angeles International Airport officially opened the extension of its Terminal 1 building with a ceremony attended by LA Mayor Eric Garcetti. The $477m extension project increases capacity for new passenger check-in, security screening, baggage claims and adds a future connection to the Automated People Mover train system.
Philadelphia Airport to expand cargo facilities
Philadelphia International Airport has announced an expansion of its air cargo facility. The project will expand the airport’s cargo footprint by 136 acres and almost triple the size of its cargo building.
Quotes
Airport Operators Association chief executive Karen Dee warns of a difficult summer ahead for UK aviation and calls on the government for support:
“Unless the government makes a meaningful restart of aviation possible by extending the green list at the next review, moving to rapid and affordable tests for returning travellers and following the examples of the EU and the US by reducing restrictions on fully vaccinated passengers, aviation is in for an extremely difficult summer. Airports have suffered blow after blow since the start of the pandemic. If the Government decides it cannot reopen travel more meaningfully, then they should stand ready to give substantial financial compensation to airports and others in aviation and tourism.”
Secretary of State for Business, Energy, and Industry Strategy, Kwasi Kwarteng, comments on the launch of the UK aviation industry’s first interim decarbonisation targets:
“These targets are an important milestone for the British aviation industry and show that airports, aerospace manufacturers and airlines share in our ambition to adopt the new and emerging technologies necessary to fight climate change. Working with industry through our Jet Zero Council, we are putting the decarbonisation of the aviation sector at the centre of our plans to build back greener from the pandemic and this industry roadmap complements our vision perfectly.”
