In 2022, the number of commercial flights in the EU was still below the pre-pandemic number of 2019. The most substantial falls in the number of commercial flights were recorded in January (-34% compared with the same month in 2019), February (-33%), March (-27%) and April (-19%). 
 

Source dataset: avia_tf_cm

As the year progressed, a more significant recovery was recorded, with falls between 14% and 16% recorded between May and December 2022. The most significant recoveries were recorded in August and October (both -14%). 

Among the EU members, Greece was the only country that recorded more flights than in 2019 (+1%). Other countries were close to full recovery, such as Portugal (-4% compared with 2019), Luxembourg (-8%) and Croatia (-9%). At the other end of the scale, the countries that showed the least signs of recovery were Slovenia (-41%), Czechia (-35%), Finland (-33%) and Sweden (-31%). 

Frankfurt/Main airport: highest drop in the number of commercial flights in 2022 

In 2022, a majority of EU airports were still registering decreases in the number of commercial flights compared with 2019. 

Source dataset: avia_tf_airpm

The airports that were furthest from recovery compared with 2019 were Frankfurt/Main (-131 723 commercial flights less than in 2019, -33%), München (-130 715, -17%) Düsseldorf (-84 542, -33%), København/Kastrup (-60 520, -38%) and Brussels (-55 824, -45%).