As a result of the reductions in passenger traffic and flight operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic Munich Airport in Germany has revealed that it is experiencing massive decreases in every area. The number of take-offs and landings declined steadily in March and over the last week had plummeted to less than 10% of the number counted in the corresponding week in 2019. Passenger traffic overall is now at just 5% of last year’s level.
“We are experiencing a crisis in global air transportation on an unprecedented scale, with no end in sight,” said Jost Lammers, the President and CEO of Munich Airport, as he explained that the airport operator, Flughafen München GmbH (FMG), and its subsidiaries have already begun to implement far-reaching measures to secure the airport’s liquidity. “Protecting the health of our passengers and employees at Munich Airport remains our top priority. Another vital concern is to limit the enormous economic damage for Munich Airport and the people working here by taking all necessary measures to preserve our financial stability,” he continued.
In addition to imposing tight limits on personnel and material costs, FMG’s measures include the postponement of planned investment projects such as a new parking facility, new corporate headquarters and a new budget hotel.
Munich plans to continue operating and maintaining its role as critical infrastructure and to ensure that returnees can get home and cargo shipments keep moving in as timely and efficient a manner as possible. The airlines serving the airport now have more than 100 out-of-service aircraft parked at the airport.
“Our goal this year is to adjust our economic and financial fundamentals to the current situation and the dry spell that lies ahead. In doing so, we will benefit from Munich Airport’s strong economic performance over the years and especially in 2019,” said an optimistic Lammers.
Although it’s anyone’s guess at this stage as to when the industry will rebound from this pandemic Lammers is looking ahead with confidence. “The effects of the coronavirus crisis exceed the impact of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, or the global financial crisis of 2008. Consequently, it may take significantly longer this time before demand returns to the previous level. Nor can we rule out structural changes in air traffic. But I have no doubt that the global need for mobility will increase in the medium term and that air travel will therefore return to growth once more,” he concluded.
