Air traffic in the EU and at major airports: more and more disruptions in 2018

WARSAW, Poland - Jan. 28, 2019 - PRLog -- Air traffic in the EU and at major airports: more and more disruptions in 2018

Last year was a period of strong rise in flight disruptions for Europe's largest airports compared to 2017. The 2018 GIVT (https://givt.com/pl) Index for the European Union amounted to 17.4 versus 11.4 in 2017. In terms of the largest markets in Europe, Spain had the least issues with punctuality in 2018, while Barajas boasts the best result among Europe's TOP 10 airports.

"The congestion of the network, the increasing number of passengers, as well as airline staff strikes are the main factors that influenced the situation at European airports last year, resulting in a significant increase in the delay and cancellation rates. This trend has affected all of Europe's five largest aviation markets. The air traffic disruption rate has also increased for all the European TOP 10 airports", commented Paulina Krogulec, Head of Airline Relations at GIVT.

The European Union and the "Big Five" in 2018

The 2018 GIVT (https://givt.com/pl) index for the European Union was 17.4, up 52% compared to 2017. The best result in the "Big Five" group, i.e. among the largest European aviation markets, was achieved last year by Spain, whose index was 12.4, still up 82% compared to 2017. Despite this large increase, Spain ranked best for the second time with the 2017 GIVT Index of 6.8.

Similar to 2017, Italy came in second with the 2018 result amounting to 13.9. Hence, the air traffic disruption rate for this country increased by 49% year-on-year. The UK was ranked third as it ended the year with 16.1 and an increase of 34%, with the 2017 GIVT Index amounting to 12. 'The order in the top three did not change compared to 2017. Germany and France switched positions between number four and five; France closed last year's ranking with the index at the level of 21.4. France is also a country with the highest increase, up by 8.6 points over the 2017 result,' said the GIVT expert.

COUNTRY / AREA  GIVT INDEX 2017  GIVT INDEX 2018  CHANGE
SPAIN  6.8  12.4  +5.6
ITALY  9.3  13.9  +4.6
UK  12  16.1  +4.1
EUROPEAN UNION  11.4  17.4  +6
GERMANY  13  19.3  +6.3
FRANCE  12.8  21.4  +8.6

Europe's largest airports in 2018

The airport in the capital of Spain opens the list of TOP 10 largest European airports. Barajas in Madrid had an index of 9.2 last year, that is 41% higher than in 2017; the airport in Madrid was also ranked first in 2017. The airport in Rome came in second with an index of 11.3 (up 48%) and the airport in Copenhagen took third place (12.3) with a 32% increase.

Heathrow Airport recorded the lowest increase in this TOP 10 group; its result deteriorated by less than 1% last year. With an index of 13.5, the airport in London was ranked fourth.

"The three airports closing the list recorded the highest annual increase in the index, among them Barcelona Airport, which came in second in 2017. Following a 155% increase in the index to 18.1, it was ranked eighth among the European TOP 10 airports,' said Paulina Krogulec. 'The last but one, with a score of 18.2, is Charles de Gaulle Paris Airport, which increased its index by 106% year-on-year. Munich Airport came in last; its index was 20.5, 102% higher than in 2017", added the expert.

AIRPORT  GIVT INDEX 2017  GIVT INDEX 2018  CHANGE
Adolfo Suárez Madrid – Barajas Airport  6.5  9.2  +2.7
Leonardo da Vinci – Fiumicino Airport  7.6  11.3  +3.7
Copenhagen Airport  9.3  12.3  +3
London Heathrow Airport  13.4  13.5  +0.1
London Gatwick Airport  8.1  16.1  +8
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol  15.4  16.3  +0.9
Frankfurt Airport  12.7  18.1  +5.3
Barcelona – El Prat Airport  7.1  18.1  +11
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport  8.8  18.2  +9.4
Munich International Airport  10.1  20.5  +10.4

GIVT Index – 2018 at Europe's top 10 airports

How does the GIVT Index work and what does it show?

The index is calculated on the basis of available internal data and external sources as a share of scheduled flights departing from a country, region or airport which have been delayed for over 3 hours or cancelled (the index of 10 means 1% of disrupted flights).

The GIVT Index illustrates the scale of problems faced by airline passengers. This is not only a question of convenience, but also of money due to them, as passengers are entitled to financial compensation, among other things, in almost all cases determined by this index. In Poland there are about one million passengers entitled to such compensation each year, and in the EU as many as 25 million (if all of them claimed their compensation, the amount would be as much as EUR 5 billion for passengers across Europe on an annual basis).

Media contact:

Lidia Klosowska, Brand Communication & PR Manager

+48 600 065 000, lidia.klosowska@givt.com

ABOUT GIVT

We seek compensation from air carriers for delayed or cancelled flights and in cases when air travellers are denied boarding. We act fast and efficiently, and we follow transparent rules. To make it easier for the passengers to obtain compensation, our focus is on strong technology, task automation systems, machine learning and advanced Big Data. GIVT has attracted experts with expertise in several sectors including aviation, finance, modern technology, consulting, digital marketing and legal services. www.givt.com