- Last year, Toulouse-Blagnac airport recorded stagnant traffic (0.1%) due to strikes or the launch of the TGV OuiGo offer.
- If traffic had gone up again in January and February, the platform has recorded a decline since the beginning of March due to the coronavirus crisis.
- Airport management expects to be impacted over the next three months, as flights have already been canceled to quarantined areas or countries where restrictions have been put in place.
On Sunday, an Easyjet flight from Porto to Lyon was diverted to Toulouse-Blagnac airport due to suspected coronavirus in an elderly passenger who suffered from breathing difficulties. An alert raised during the day, as every time that the procedure was launched within Toulouse-Blagnac airport for a suspicious case said Monday morning Philippe Crébassa, the chairman of the management board of the managing company.
For the moment, the authorities have not asked the platform managers to implement drastic measures, such as wearing a mask for its employees. "We have implemented information measures by posters and leaflets, we are coordinating with the prefecture to adapt an action plan", continues this manager who took stock of the platform's activities.
Last year, after years of growth, the airport recorded stagnant traffic with 9.6 million passengers (-0.1%). The arrival of a OuiGo TGV offer this summer at Matabiau station, strikes or even the uncertainties around Brexit are among the explanations.
Over the first two months of the year, the trend was to recover and the development prospects, in particular with the opening of a transatlantic line for Montreal on June 5, suggested an increase in attendance. A good signal for Eiffage, a new shareholder who bought the shares in the Chinese Casil consortium. But since then, the coronavirus crisis has appeared.
Three difficult months ahead
Due to restrictions taken by certain countries, flights are canceled, notably to Italy or even Israel. “During the first days of March, we recorded a decrease. We expect to have an impact over the next three months. In March, we already have several canceled flights. We must deal with the drop in activity while ensuring continuity of service for all players on the platform, ”explained Philippe Crébassa.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has already estimated airline losses of $ 100 billion. With consequences already immediate for some of them, like the regional airline Flybe, already weakened, which announced Thursday the immediate cessation of its activities.
This Tuesday, a meeting of the French Airports Union should allow us to learn a little more about the prospects for air traffic and how to manage this health crisis.
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- Economy
- Coronavirus
- Airport
- Airline company
- Air traffic
- Toulouse-Blagnac Airport
- Toulouse