After the strong recovery in 2022, 2023 confirms the upturn in air traffic. In 2023, Genève Aéroport welcomed 16,482,739 passengers, 17.02% more than in 2022, but 8.05% less than in 2019. As a reminder, Genève Aéroport handled 17,926,625 passengers in 2019. Over the last twelve months, total landings and take-offs reached 172,841 movements, 5.93% more than in 2022. The number of movements remains below (-7.10%) the 186,043 movements recorded in 2019.
These two indicators - aircraft movements and passengers - show that Genève Aéroport has fully emerged from the crisis and is entering a phase of measured growth. According to our forecasts, the overall passenger traffic level of 2019 will be reached in 2025. However, Genève Aéroport has already returned to its pre-Covid passenger levels in a few weeks of the fourth quarter.
With 146 destinations in 2022, service to Genève Aéroport has increased to 148 destinations in 2023. Last year, Genève Aéroport regained all of its pre-Covid long-haul services, with increased frequencies on certain destinations and new airlines.
The market shares of the top ten airlines over the past year were as follows: easyJet (46.4%), SWISS (12.2%), British Airways (4.9%), Air France (3.8%), Iberia (2.9%), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (2.2%), TAP Portugal (2.1%), Emirates (2.0%), Turkish Airlines (1.9%) and Lufthansa (1.6%).
Record number of latest-generation aircraft
For several years now, Genève Aéroport has been offering incentives to encourage airlines to use the latest generation of aircraft, thereby helping to limit noise emissions. These category 5 aircraft, which are quieter and consume less fuel, accounted for 32.53% of scheduled and charter aircraft movements in 2023 (compared with 24.95% in 2022 and 22.25% in 2021).
Another point of attention for Genève Aéroport, which will shortly be implemented is the introduction of a quota system with sanctions: in 2023, movements between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., all categories combined including medical flights, totaled 9,618, or 5.56% of flights (5.68% in 2022 and 5.39% in 2019). More specifically, scheduled and non-scheduled scheduled and charter flights after 10 pm remained 4.0% lower than in 2019 (9,216 movements versus 9,600 movements). In 2022, they were 7.2% lower than in 2019.
The year 2023 shows a decline in air freight. The annual tonnage of air and truck freight handled at Genève Aéroport amounted to 66,358 tonnes, down 5.76% on 2022. Like most European airports, air freight activity at the hub was marked by the slowdown in Swiss and global economic growth, the reorientation of flows in international trade due to geopolitical situations, and the gradual shift of certain shipments to sea freight.
Next replacement of the main terminal
One of the major events of the past year was the launch of the CAP2030 project, which will eventually replace the airport's main terminal (T1 from 1968). Genève Aéroport decided to award the contract for the Losinger-Marazzi-Bouygues (LMB) project. CAP2030 is the cornerstone of Genève Aéroport's investments for the next decade. By 2032, this construction project will offer greater comfort for users and employees, eliminate saturation of our infrastructure, improve accessibility to the hub, meet 21st century standards and set an example in terms of energy efficiency. Another project taking off in 2023 is the extension of satellite 10, which will create five new boarding gates and complete the reorganisation of passport control points begun with the opening of the East Wing.
The 2023 annual report, the financial statements and, for the first time, the non-financial performance report will be made public on 19 March 2024.