Brussels: Europe and Arabs

Figures from Eurostat said that in August 2022, the number of commercial flights in the European Union increased by 25% compared to August 2021. While this is still below pre-pandemic levels, the gap is slowly narrowing (-14 % compared to August 2019).

According to figures published in Brussels, in general, the number of commercial flights reached 596,930 in August 2022, compared to 478,996 in August 2021, 324,538 in August 2020, and 695,912 in August 2019.

Only two EU countries recorded an increase in commercial flights in August 2022 compared with August 2019: Greece (+5%) and Luxembourg (+2%). In contrast, the largest decreases in flights were recorded in Slovenia (-42%), Latvia (-39%) and Finland (-31%). 

Furthermore, some EU airports recorded increases in the number of commercial flights compared with 2019.

The largest increases in the number of commercial flights were recorded in Napoli Capodichino (+1 156, +14%), Kerkira Ioannis Kapodistrias (+1 026, +22%) and Santorini (+978, +30%).

At the other end of the scale, the largest decreases in the number of commercial flights were recorded in Frankfurt Main (-10 554, -23% compared with August 2019), Milano Malpensa (-9 048, -34%) and Roma Fiumicino (-8 018,-27%).