61 million air passengers in 2022, quarter fewer than before pandemic
| Maand | 2019 (x million) | 2020 (x million) | 2021 (x million) | 2022 (x million) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5.5 | 5.6 | 0.9 | 2.8 |
| February | 5.4 | 5.3 | 0.5 | 3.0 |
| March | 6.3 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 4.2 |
| April | 6.9 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 5.1 |
| May | 7.4 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 6.1 |
| June | 7.5 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 6.1 |
| July | 7.7 | 1.7 | 3.5 | 6.2 |
| August | 7.9 | 2.2 | 4.5 | 6.4 |
| September | 7.5 | 1.5 | 4.0 | 6.1 |
| October | 7.4 | 1.3 | 4.4 | 5.9 |
| November | 5.9 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 4.6 |
| December | 5.9 | 1.3 | 3.2 | 4.7 |
August was the busiest month in 2022, with 44.9 thousand flights. That month also saw the highest number of passengers travelling to and from the Netherlands: 6.4 million. The busiest day was Monday 1 August, when a total of 221 thousand passengers passed through the terminals of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Rotterdam The Hague Airport, Eindhoven Airport, Maastricht Aachen Airport and Groningen Airport Eelde.
Increasing seat occupancy rates
Besides the passenger numbers, the number of passenger flights also showed an increase. The average aircraft occupancy rate rose as well. In 2022, seat occupancy on passenger flights was 76 out of 100. In 2019, this was 81 out of 100. In 2020 and 2021, the average occupancy rate amounted to 57 and 58 percent, respectively.
Almost 3/4 of passengers travelled within Europe
Of the 61.3 million passengers who flew to and from the Netherlands in 2022, more than 74 percent travelled within Europe. Passengers to and from Spain (8.4 million) and to and from the United Kingdom (6.7 million) constituted the largest share. Together, they accounted for 24.7 percent of the total number of air passengers carried. In 2019, it was still the other way around; most air passengers flew to and from the United Kingdom (11.3 million) and to and from Spain (8.7 million). Among countries outside Europe, the United States was the most popular. In 2020 and 2021, travellers stayed closer to home and travelled mainly within Europe.
| jaar | Europe, EU (%) | Europe, non-EU1) (%) | North and Central America (%) | South America (%) | Asia (%) | Africa (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 48.9 | 24.4 | 11.5 | 2.0 | 9.0 | 4.1 |
| 2020 | 52.2 | 22.9 | 10.5 | 2.3 | 7.9 | 4.2 |
| 2021 | 60.1 | 17.1 | 11.3 | 2.2 | 5.1 | 4.1 |
| 2022 | 53.4 | 21.0 | 13.0 | 2.5 | 6.0 | 4.1 |
| 1)For the purpose of comparability, the UK was counted among 'Europe, non-EU' in each consecutive year. | ||||||
1.5 million passengers to and from Barcelona-El Prat
The majority of passengers travelling through Dutch airports in 2022 flew between the Netherlands and Barcelona-El Prat. In 2019, passenger traffic was highest to and from London Heathrow (1.7 million passengers).
| 2022 (x million) | 2021 (x million) | 2020 (x million) | 2019 (x million) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona, El Prat | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.6 |
| London, Heathrow | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 1.7 |
| Malaga, Pablo Ruiz Picasso | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.1 |
| Lisbon, Portela | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 1.2 |
| Dublin | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 1.3 |
| Madrid, Barajas | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 1.2 |
| Copenhagen, Kastrup | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 1.2 |
| Rome, Fiumicino - L. da Vinci | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 |
| Alicante, El Altet | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.9 |
| Paris, Charles de Gaulle | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1.2 |
Less air cargo transportation
In 2022, air cargo volumes declined by nearly 14 percent year on year, to 1.5 million tonnes. Both Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Maastricht Aachen Airport - the airports where cargo is handled - transported less cargo: -13.8 and -15.5 percent, respectively. In 2019, air cargo amounted to 1.7 million tonnes.
Sources
- StatLine - Aviation; monthly figures of Dutch airports