Cologne Bonn climbs back after Covid knockback

Air Service One met with Tobias Lyssy, Director Marketing & Sales, Cologne Bonn Airport at this week’s 149th IATA Slot Conference in Rome:

“We had 12 million passengers prior to Covid in 2019 which reduced to 3 million at the peak of the pandemic however since the summer the rebuild is underway to get back to 4 million passengers by the end of 2022.”

Emerging from the Covid storm Cologne is experiencing strong growth including a strong Turkish market. Cologne Bonn has had more flights to Istanbul per day than to Berlin or Munich! The reduction in domestic routes is partly due to the decrease in corporate traffic due to Corona and partly the debate on climate change in Germany that is affecting domestic market growth.

However, Tobias went on to state that prior to the loss of Air Berlin and then the Covid pandemic we had more than 100 flights per week to Berlin.  During Covid it was only Eurowings operating the route now easyJet is coming back covering the Cologne to Berlin sector from December 1st.”

However, making up for the loss in passenger traffic, Cologne has grown its position as one of the most important cargo hubs in Europe, getting close to 1 million tons of cargo in 2021 ranking number 3 in Germany and number 6 in Europe with the help of carriers including Amazon Air.

Staying on message and supporting the airports passion for achieving net zero carbon neutrality Cologne has entered into a cooperation with DLR, German Aerospace Centre to deliver innovative approaches in airport management and infrastructure.