VINCI Airports, a French company that develops, finances, builds and provides everyday operation for 65 airports in twelve countries, last Thursday presented its operating results for 2022.
As reported in a press release, during the last quarter of the year traffic across its network increased by 51% compared to the same period in 2021. In total, nearly 50 million passengers passed through the airports it manages, 17 million more than during the last quarter of 2021.
If the figures recorded at the thirteen Mexican airports of Grupo Aeroportuario Centro Norte (OMA), which joined the network on 8 December, are also taken into account, the total number of passengers reaches 56 million.
For the whole of 2022, traffic at VINCI Airports airports doubled compared to the previous year and achieved a 72% recovery compared to 2019, the last year prior to the start of the pandemic. However, traffic levels are still 28% below those reported in 2019.
In addition, the company highlighted that, for the first time since the start of the crisis, 2019 activity levels were exceeded at the airports it operates in Portugal and Serbia.
Mexico, a market with “enormous potential”
VINCI Airports particularly highlighted the results of the airports in Mexico. As reported, the thirteen terminals recorded 9% higher traffic than in the fourth quarter of 2019. According to the company, this confirms “this market’s enormous potential, both domestically and to and from the United States.
Traffic between Mexico and its northern neighbour was particularly dynamic, and was boosted by the capacity of carriers such as American Airlines, Spirit and Frontier.
Good performance in Europe, despite external difficulties
Passenger traffic remained stable in Europe, despite the stress on the industry as a result of an uncertain economic and geopolitical context.
The airport operator welcomed the solid performance of passenger traffic in Portugal, mainly in air connections to France, Spain and the United Kingdom. In this regard, VINCI Airports valued the “development of low-cost airlines”.
Moreover, traffic growth at Belgrade-Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG), Serbia, accelerated in the last quarter of 2022 and reached a 13% increase in December. The company also highlighted activity at Lyon-Saint Exupéry (LYS) and London-Gatwick (LGW) airports.
Full recovery in Japan
Finally, VINCI Airports highlighted the recovery of domestic air traffic in Japan, which has already reached pre-pandemic crisis levels. In addition, it explained that international movement is also recovering following the lifting of regional restrictions, which affected operations in recent months.
On the other hand, traffic in Cambodia continued to be affected by fewer flights to and from China. However, connections to other Southeast Asian countries, such as Singapore and Thailand, grew by 15% and 28% respectively between October and December 2022.
“The easing of travel restrictions in the first quarter of 2023 announced by the Chinese authorities should benefit these Asian airports in the coming months, although the pace of that recovery remains unclear”, the company explained.
See also: VINCI Airports takes over two more airports in Brazil
