ForwardKeys report ranks 50 busiest airports in the world and presents a stark contrast to the pre-pandemic period, particularly in terms of changes within European and MENA airports, which have seen significant shifts compared to 2019.
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GLO
The recent list of the busiest airports for outbound international passenger traffic, published by the travel analytics company ForwardKeys, presents a stark contrast to the pre-pandemic period, particularly in terms of changes within European and MENA airports, which have seen significant shifts compared to 2019.
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Key takeaways:
In Europe, Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen (SAW) and Antalya (AYT) have made significant strides in the rankings, indicating a sustained demand for affordable “sun and beach” destinations in Turkey, as well as the growing importance of Istanbul Airport as a global hub.
Berlin Brandenburg (BER) has entered the top 50 list of international departure airports for the first time, replacing the city’s Schonefeld and Tegel airports, which closed in 2020.
Paris Orly (ORY) has climbed 13 positions compared to its 2019 ranking, partly due to the expansion of its capacity with the inauguration of the new Terminal 3 in April 2019.
Malaga-Costa del Sol (AGP) has also joined the top 50 list, with an increase in international outbound seat capacity driven by EasyJet’s new seasonal base at the airport in 2021 and new connections to the USA and Middle East.
In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Cairo International (CAI) and Jeddah (JED) have seen significant improvements in their rankings, with CAI rising by 26 places and JED by 16. This underscores the growing significance of the MENA region for business travel and long-haul transit, as well as the ongoing efforts of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states to promote tourism and diversify their economies.
Marina Giuliano, VP of brands, retail, and media at ForwardKeys, notes that these figures reveal a shift in how people are traveling, with emerging business opportunities for retailers and brands in Europe and the Middle East. She also highlights noticeable changes in traveler preferences and profiles in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, impacting the top global airports.
ForwardKeys’ team of travel intelligence analysts has unveiled additional insights in their recently released report, “The Busiest Airports of the World,” just in time for the travel retail sector’s highly anticipated industry event, the TFWA Conference in Cannes.
