New variants of the COVID-19 virus have prompted added restrictions that discourage air travel in Europe, with traffic this month expected to be 64 percent below that recorded in January 2019, Eurocontrol says.
In a statement issued Wednesday (Jan. 27), Eurocontrol Director General Eamonn Brennan said air traffic will be “exceptionally low” throughout Europe in February, March and April, at about 25 to 30 percent of normal levels.
“It is a complete disaster for European aviation – an industry that’s already on its knees,” Brennan said. “What remains unclear currently is the situation thereafter.”
By the second quarter of 2021, risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic may have lessened and the number of people who have been vaccinated against the virus will have increased, Brennan said.
“This could lead to the possibility for nonessential air travel to become more accessible, which would facilitate a small improvement [during the secon…
