As the recovery of the airline industry gathers pace day by day, its evolution over time is just as visible. New technologies are now omnipresent in airports, and current advances should enable the airline industry to continue this transformation. The industry is constantly innovating to meet the new expectations of travellers, while at the same time democratising air travel for the general public. If today's airline industry is a long way from its beginnings, what can we expect in the decades to come?
To (re)read the first part of this analysis of the airline sector, click here.
The constant evolution of airports
As international tourism picks up, airport aisles and departure lounges are filling up again. Some airports, of course, are handling far more passengers than others, as highlighted by ACI World's top 20 busiest airports. Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, which welcomed 75.7 million passengers, an increase of +76.4%, once again tops the ranking for 2021, followed by Dallas Forth Worth with 62.5 million passengers, an increase of 58.7%, and Denver with 58.8 million passengers, an increase of 74.4%.
In the ranking of the top 20 airports, almost all have significant domestic traffic, representing 65% to 100% of the total number of passengers. The only exception is Istanbul International Airport, in 14th place, where international traffic accounts for 72% of passenger traffic. It is also the only airport in the EMEA region to feature in this ranking, the rest being American or Asian airports.
Today's airports are under increasing competitive pressure. As European airports strive to achieve financial stability and resilience, the growing buying power of Europe's airlines is squeezing them ever tighter. The structural changes in the market resulting from the pandemic have only increased the power of airlines over airports, heightening the competitive pressure on airports to attract and retain air services.
In order to remain attractive, the City of London airport is investing heavily in the renovation of its boarding area to improve the passenger experience. The airport is embarking on a £12 million refurbishment that will increase seating capacity, offer two new catering services, expand the duty free area, create new retail space and give the departure lounge a completely new look. In particular, the modernisation will increase seating capacity by 30%.
Riga Airport is also thinking big and...
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