Geographic differences in passenger turnover decline at airports around the world in 2020 caused by the COVID-2019 pandemic
Geographic differences in passenger turnover decline at airports around the world in 2020 caused by the COVID-2019 pandemic

Summary/Abstract: Decline types of passenger turnover of 517 airports worldwide in 2020 compared to 2019, caused by COVID-19, are analyzed. This decay was uneven in space, as well as in individual countries, areas, poles, centers and cores. The strongest decline in 2020 occurred at airports of Europe (especially in the UK, Spain, Germany, and Italy) and Asia (particularly in India and Malaysia), medium – in the countries of America (the USA, Mexico, Brazil) and Norway, moderate – in Russia, weak – in China. 48% of all airports covered by the study showed a strong decline in passenger turnover (from 65 to 85%), 32% – medium (45 to 65%), 10% – moderate (30 to 45%). A catastrophic decline (over 85%) was recorded at 14 airports (2.7%), weak (15-30%) – in 26 (5%), insignificant (3-15%) – in 9 (1.7%). Stagnation (from -3% to + 3%) was noted only in 1 airport, and growth (more than + 3%) – in 3. The largest international airports with a high proportion of international transit passengers and airports with a narrow resort and tourist specialization were most affected by the covid crisis; less – airports with a dominance of domestic traffic. The pandemic has deformed the persistent territorial structure of world air traffic, which has formed over the past 60 years, and also violated the already established hierarchy of the largest and large airports not only around the world, but also within individual mega-regions and countries with big territories and populations.

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