Despite the ongoing corona pandemic and the associated lockdowns, Graz Airport was able to increase its results in 2021 compared to the previous year in all segments. Despite Omikron, the desire to travel in the summer of the previous year allows us to look to the future with cautious optimism.
The year 2021 has started very difficult worldwide and therefore also for Graz Airport. Almost all of Europe was in lock-down; in Austria, travel regulations were only eased in the course of May. In the first 5 months of 2021, only just over 16,000 passengers could be served. The first half of 2021 was therefore significantly in the red compared to 2020.
“With the end of the lock-down and the beginning of the vacation period, we have noticeably gained ground,” said Wolfgang Grimus, Managing Director of Graz Airport. “In addition to Vienna, we were able to connect Graz to four other large transfer airports, namely Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich, as well as to the economic centers of Stuttgart and Düsseldorf, and offer a wide range of charter programs.”
The new lock-down in late autumn 2021 slowed down the good development somewhat, but with 226,562 passengers an increase of +13.6% was achieved.
“Even if the airport’s figures from the previous year show a better result than 2020, 2021 was a mixed year overall,” said Wolfgang Malik, CEO of Holding Graz.
Malik continues: “We cannot influence the pandemic, but we can prepare the take-off for the future today in coordination with the airport management. This includes our plan to implement a “Business Park” further south with partners and in consultation with the municipalities. After all, we have 310 hectares of land surrounded by well-known companies such as Saubermacher. “
In addition, Malik would like to push ahead with the “Green Airport” approach: “We want to be CO2-neutral. This ranges from pure electric mobility on the site to the stationing of electrically powered small aircraft. And we also want to set up our own energy production with the help of solar systems. “
The development in detail:
Line and charter:
In the area of scheduled flights, the travel restrictions in winter and spring naturally had a greater impact, which is why the number of passengers was 7.2% (-13,322 passengers) lower than in 2020. However, this minus was more than made up for with an increase of 272% (+40,374 passengers) in the charter segment.
In terms of movements, a minus of -8% (-279 movements) was recorded in the area of scheduled flights. The increase of 178.2% (+948 movements) in the charter area shows that significantly more flights were carried out in 2021 than in 2020 and that these were also better utilized.
The freight:
With a total volume of 19,250 tons and an increase of 18.5% or around 3,000 tons, the freight business developed very positively. Important medical products such as FFP2 masks and rapid tests were transported to Graz on a total of 32 cargo flights, mostly with Boeing 747s.
General Aviation:
General aviation has also developed strongly as a result of Corona. A number of companies as well as private travelers have increasingly resorted to this type of transport in order to be able to keep important appointments, which has led to an increase in movement of 28.8%.
The non-aviation sector
In order to make the passenger experience at Graz Airport even more attractive, the VIP lounge underwent a relaunch at the beginning of last year, which was very well received by passengers.
The partners Lagardère and the Heinemann brothers reopened large parts of the catering and the duty free shop as soon as possible after the lockdowns ended, in order to continue to offer passengers a comprehensive service.
“The conference center was also used more frequently in summer and autumn. We were able to oversee around 100 events in 2021, even if, of course, due to the COVID requirements on a small scale, ”said Jürgen Löschnig, Managing Director of Graz Airport. “The SPAR supermarket was also available to our guests and residents of the surrounding area continuously in 2021.”
Confidence for the upcoming summer flight schedule
“Rising vaccination coverage and a responsible handling of the corona pandemic by air travelers suggest a steady increase in travel volumes, especially from the second quarter onwards. In scheduled services, we are working together with our airline partners on frequency consolidation and the selective use of larger aircraft to the existing destinations Vienna, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Amsterdam, Düsseldorf and Stuttgart, ”says Wolfgang Grimus.
Tour operators and airlines have put together a wide range of offers for the coming summer. Around 15 destinations, from A like Antalya to Z like Zakynthos will be in the program. In addition, numerous short chains and special flights such. B. to Naples, Paphos and Ankara.
Source: Graz Airport PM
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