Eindhoven Airport can look back on a bad year. The corona pandemic and the consequently very sharp decline in the number of flight movements and passengers had a major effect on the airport and its partner companies in 2020. The health and safety of airport personnel, passengers and the organization was central to all decisions taken by the airport. The corona crisis not only had a major effect on the day-to-day operations, but certainly also on the turnover and results of the airport. In 2020 the number of aircraft movements amounted to 18.822. The year before that was 41.438. They served 79 destinations (2019: 89) and the number of passengers decreased by 69 percent to 2,1 million (2019: 6,7 million). Eindhoven Airport's revenues decreased by 2020 percent in 64 to 23,3 million euros (2019: 64,7 million euros). This is evident from the 2020 annual report that the shareholders adopted on Monday, April 12.
The airport is looking ahead despite the difficult times that Eindhoven Airport went through due to the corona pandemic, which will certainly also have repercussions in 2021. Roel Hellemons, general manager of Eindhoven Airport: “2020 was a tough year, but positive things have certainly also been achieved. . And the tide will turn. ”
Eindhoven Airport also maintained the previously implemented strategy 'from quantity to quality' in 2020. For example, a number of quality impulses were made and measures were taken to further limit nuisance. As of October 25, there are no scheduled flights after 23.00 p.m. The number of flight movements has also been frozen at 41.500 up to and including 2022. The airport aims to reduce noise by stimulating airlines to use quieter and cleaner aircraft by means of an incentive in airport charges. In addition, the new forecourt, Airport Boulevard and the new access post for suppliers, among others, were completed in 2020. The redesigned and therefore more pleasant access to the security area will be completed shortly. In addition, the construction of the roof on the apron has started and the airport recently launched Power Up together with other airports; a trial in which electric flying is started.
Hellemons emphasizes that 2021 will also be a challenging year. But Eindhoven Airport is confident in the recovery of aviation, the need of people to be able to go on holiday again, to visit friends and family and to travel for business as soon as this is possible again. Eindhoven Airport is preparing itself with the confidence that it will be possible to travel responsibly within Europe in the summer. There are already positive developments, such as vaccinations in many countries, the rapid tests that are becoming available and the tests that are carried out with travel.
How quickly Eindhoven Airport recovers depends on many factors. That is why the airport takes various financial scenarios into account. Uncertainties remain, but it is certain that Eindhoven Airport is staying on course and is putting quality and the region first in the development of the airport and that it remains committed to making the airport more sustainable, according to Eindhoven Airport on their website.
Also read: Eindhoven Airport satisfied with draft nature permit decision
