Europe’s biggest airlines register only small changes in third week of August
Flight data for Europe’s biggest airlines for the third week of August shows only modest changes in terms of the rate of recovery compared with the previous week. Overall, the number of aircraft movements is at 70.0% of the 2019 figure, down from 70.5% in each of the two previous weeks. However, among our basket of 12 airlines in the analysis, eight increased their recovery while four (Air France, Iberia, KLM and Lufthansa) reported a drop in their recovery rate. The fact that these four airlines are all major flag-carriers in western Europe may be significant. All five (U)LCCs in our analysis saw improved recovery rates.
British Airways now just outside top 10
As measured by actual flights operated, Eurocontrol data shows that Ryanair was again by far the busiest airline in terms of flights operated on Monday 23 August. The carrier had 2,355 flights, well ahead of Turkish Airlines (1,325), easyJet (1,220), Air France (923) and Lufthansa (793). Rounding out the top 10 airlines for flights, just as they have in each of the three previous weeks, are KLM, Wizz Air, Vueling, Pegasus Airlines and SAS. British Airways has moved up a place from 12th to 11th (with 405 flights) ahead of Widerøe and Aegean Airlines.
Amsterdam is busiest airport for flights
Looking at airports, Amsterdam with 1,073 movements on Monday 23 August, was just ahead of Istanbul IST (1,020), Paris CDG (974) and Frankfurt (919). Some way behind in fifth place is Madrid (790) just beating its Spanish rival Barcelona (738). Rounding out the top 10 are Athens (694), Palma de Mallorca (672), London LHR (670) and Istanbul SAW (630).