January traffic stood at 89% of pre-Covid volumes (January 2019), up a further 3% from 86% in December 2022. "This is the best monthly performance and closest to a full recovery since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic," said ACI Europe.

Year-on-year, January passenger traffic across Europe’s airport network rebounded 69%, free from the constraints of Omicron-related travel restrictions. This rebound, though, was driven by international travel demand rather than domestic demand; international passenger traffic is up 85% year-on-year, with domestic lagging behind at +35%.

ACI Europe director general Jankovec said 2023 had got off to a "pretty good start", characterised by "resilient" passenger demand in the face of higher air fares and "wider inflationary pressures".

"42% of Europe’s airports have now recovered their pre-pandemic traffic volumes, and while there are significant performance variations across markets, we expect more to hit the same milestone in the coming months," said Jankovec. "Continued capacity expansion by ultra--ow-cost carriers and the recent lifting of pre-departure testing requirements for travellers from China should keep driving the recovery forward for airports.”

Jankovec said the immediate focus for members was getting ready for the summer peak season, hailing efforts by Europe’s airports to "step up their preparedness plans".

"In doing so, they have reached out to all their operational partners – airlines, ground handlers, border control forces and air traffic controlontrol - to identify possible risks and stress points, in particular as regards staffing levels, and to devise mitigation measures," said Jankovec.

"By and large, the aviation system capacity on the ground should cope with demand – and capacity limitations will remain the exception.”