All Insights drawn via WINGX Monthly Insight Dashboard

Overview
During the first half of June global scheduled airline traffic was down 40% vs the first half of June 2019. Thanks to easing travel restrictions, global scheduled airline traffic is up 186% vs the first half of June 2020. Domestic airline traffic dominates, 18 of the top 20 country flows are internal flights. We recorded circa 780,000 scheduled aviation flights between the 1st-15th of June. The United States and China are streaks ahead in the domestic market, making up circa 282,000 and 121,000 flights respectively. Russia follows in third place with roughly 21,500 flights.

North America
Domestic airline flights in the United States are up nearly 150% vs 2020, down just 17% vs 2019. In Mexico domestic flights are up nearly 150% vs 2020, down 62% vs 2019. The Canadian domestic market is slower to respond, up 25% vs 2020 and down 80% vs 2019.

Chart 1 – Top 10 International Destinations from United States 1-15th June 2021 vs 2019

Europe
Europe is still significantly lagging North America. We recorded 53% fewer departures in Europe compared to North America for the first half of June. Departures are up 266% vs 2020 and down 59% vs 2019. Domestic flights in Europe remain the strongest, Russia, Turkey & Spain all recorded over 10,000 internal flights in the first half of June. The three busiest international routes were Germany – Spain, Spain – Germany and Spain – France. The growing number of EU countries issuing vaccine passports and accepting vaccinated travellers has given rise to demand in tourist hotspots.

Balearic Islands
Arrivals into Mallorca, Menorca & Ibiza airports are up 900% vs 2020, down 52% vs 2019. Internal flights from Spain are responsible for nearly 2,000 arrivals into the islands for the first half of June. German arrivals make up a significant proportion of international arrivals with just over 1,000 arrivals over the period.

Ryanair, Vueling, Eurowings, Air Europa, and Brussels Airlines are the top 5 operators into the islands, as they were in 2019. There is a noticeable absence of British carriers Jet2 and Tui UK, likely owing to the need for self-isolation upon return to the UK from “amber list” countries which Spain and the Balearics fall under. German airlines Condor, TuiFly and Lufthansa appear in the top 10 operators into the islands. Condor operated 134 flights, down 41% vs 2019. TuiFly operated 137 flights, down 40% vs 2019. Lufthansa operated 128 flights, up 11% vs 2019.

Chart 2 – Top international arrival airports into LEPA / PMI Palma De Mallorca Airport 1st – 15th June.

Canary Islands
The Canary Islands are another popular holiday destination for European travellers. Arrivals into Tenerife – South, Tenerife – North, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro airports are up 537% vs 2020, down 46% vs 2019.

Connections to mainland Spain from the islands were up 846% vs 2020, down 28% vs 2019. Flights from the Spanish mainland accounted for 51% of arrivals onto the islands. At the 4 main tourist airports (Tenerife South, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote & Fuerteventura), flights from Germany accounted for 16% of arrivals, the UK 8% and France 6%.
In the first half of June, weekends remained the busiest period for arrivals, recording on average 32% increase vs weekdays.

Chart 3 – Arrivals into GCTS / TFS Tenerife South Airport, GCLP / LPA Gran Canaria Airport, GCRR / ACE Lanzarote Airport, GCFV / FUE Fuerteventura Airport 1st – 15th June 2021 vs 2020

United Kingdom – Portugal

We previously reported that from May 17th travellers from the UK could travel to Portugal (including Madeira & Azores) without needing to self-isolate upon return.

In the week prior to its addition on the “Green travel list” we recorded 24 scheduled departures from the UK to Portugal. In the week commencing 17th May this had increased by 825% to 222 flights.

Portugal was moved to the amber list at 04:00 BST on June 8th, meaning arrivals must take two tests and quarantine for 10 days. In the first week of Portugal’s status on the “amber list”, arrivals from the UK appear undeterred, we recorded 334 arrivals from the UK.

Chart 4 – Arrivals into Portugal from UK airports in relation to Portugal status on red, amber, green list rules for entering England

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