Toulouse: air traffic is picking up again at Toulouse Blagnac airport
The 3rd quarter of 2022 is marked by “the strong presence of international traffic with growing demand in Europe and the Maghreb”, indicates Toulouse Blagnac airport, which recorded more than 1.9 million passengers.
Air traffic is picking up again at Toulouse Blagnac airport (ATB), after the worst crisis in its history in 2020 when activity fell by 67% due to Covid-19. In the first quarter of 2021, traffic had even reached a record drop of 81%.
From 9.5 million passengers in 2019, before the health crisis, ATB had grown to 3.1 million passengers in 2020. Since then, airlines have recovered, despite another crisis that is brewing. profile, global warming, which is likely to be much longer.
Traveling further abroad
In Q3 2022, traffic reached 76.5% of pre-Covid activity. More than 1.9 million passengers flew. The activity, explains ATB, whose management did not recommend commenting on the figures “before the start of next year”, is marked “by the strong presence of international traffic with growing demand in Europe and the Maghreb”.
In short, users have traveled more outside of France than inside. “In the 3rd quarter, notes the airport, trips in France represented 41.3% of the platform’s commercial flights (-1.6 points compared to 2019). The share of traffic in Paris (27.1%) was maintained compared to that of the third quarter of 2019. 515,642 passengers traveled between Toulouse and the capital. The Toulouse – Paris-Orly line maintained its leading position with its 330,227 passengers transported (75.8% of Q3 2019). The 2nd busiest line served the other Paris airport, Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle (CDG), and achieved 72.4% of its traffic compared to 2019”.
The attraction for low-cost companies
ATB also notes an “attractiveness” for low cost companies. “The provincial lines, mainly served by low-cost companies (81.5% of traffic in the region) welcomed 271,305 passengers.
The attraction for low-cost companies was once again confirmed in the 3rd quarter, with traffic up 6% compared to 2019, the most significant growth appeared in Figari, Lille or Strasbourg. Lyon, Lille and Nantes have retained the top of the ranking of the most identified regional destinations”. With the lifting of travel restrictions, travelers have preferred international destinations this summer.
Post-Covid context
“The share of this traffic rose sharply in the 3rd quarter and even exceeded its 2019 level for the first time since the start of the crisis (58.7%), continues ATB. 79.5% of international trade was carried out in Europe with 888,858 passengers transported. In the Schengen area, as an international hub, Munich was the preferred destination, followed by Lisbon and then Amsterdam. The most significant growth was observed in Valencia, Malta and Mahon. In other European countries, London traffic once again dominated”.
In a post-covid context, the increase in air traffic is again raising the concern of groups fighting against air pollution (see opposite), but also politicians. This is evidenced by the recent intervention by Val-de-Marne Senator Laurent Lafon with the government concerning the increase in traffic at Orly airport (Paris) and its “real impact on the health of two million residents”.
Chantal Beer Asker, President of the CCNAAT: “We must stop night flights”
Faced with the increase in ATB’s air traffic, the president of the collective against air pollution in the Toulouse conurbation (CCNAAT) Chantal Beer Plaintiff is stepping up to denounce again “the degradation of life of local residents”. “For two months, we had tasted the real silence, we see the difference, we note the deterioration of the living conditions of the residents, she protests. Freight wakes us up during the night. For us it’s the double penalty, there is more traffic especially at night. We are for the implementation of a real public health policy at night. Flights during the day are also very penalizing”.
The CCNAAT is renewing its request to the airport regarding putting traffic to sleep at night, from 11:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. “On 50 years behind Orly, recalls the president of the collective. The airports of Basel-Mulhouse, Nantes or Beauvais also do it”.