Melbourne Airport sees 98% decline in passenger numbers in April

Melbourne Airport in Australia has reported a year-on-year decrease of 98% in its April passenger numbers due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

This is said to be largest decline in passenger numbers since the airport opened in 1970.

The low numbers are attributed to the travel restrictions imposed to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

The airport expects that the gradual resumption of some restrictions may lead to an increase in passenger numbers.

In April, the airport served approximately 63,000 passengers and the decrease in passenger numbers was similar in the domestic and international markets.

In April 2019, 3,126,900 passengers travelled through the airport.

The airport was open to aid the essential domestic and international flights for repatriation and cargo movements.

Melbourne Airport CEO Lyell Strambi said: “We’ve drastically reduced costs right across the airport to suit the current situation and we are positioned to see this out, but on April’s volumes it is well short of commercial.

“Thanks to Australia’s extraordinary success in suppressing coronavirus, there are signs of light at the end of a very dark tunnel.

“While there is still a lot of uncertainty around when state borders will reopen, we are now preparing the airport for domestic travel to restart.

“We will continue to work with industry and government to do what is necessary to meet health requirements and restore passenger confidence to fly again.

Meanwhile, Fraport announced that 188,078 passengers travelled through Frankfurt Airport in April, marking a decline of 96.9% compared to the same month last year.