Corporación América Airports (CAAP), the private sector airport operator, reported a 202.1% YoY increase in passenger traffic in April 2022, reaching 73.5% of pre-pandemic levels of April 2019.
Total passenger traffic in April 2022 grew 202.1% compared to the same month of last year, driven by increases across all countries of operations, particularly in Brazil, Italy and Argentina, where traffic demand continued to recover, following the full re-opening of borders on November 1, 2021 and the lifting of travel restrictions. Overall passenger traffic recovered to 73.5% of April 2019 levels, from 68.6% in March. International and domestic passenger traffic improved sequentially reaching 68.9% and 79.1% of pre-pandemic levels of April 2019, respectively.
In Argentina, total passenger traffic increased 249.0% YoY and reached 75.2% of April 2019 levels, with international passenger traffic improving to 57.2% of pre-pandemic levels, showing a continued strong recovery from the 6.2% posted in July 2021, the lowest level of the year, and improving sequentially from the 48.4% reached in March. International traffic continued benefiting from the full re-opening of borders on November 1, 2021 and the gradual lifting of travel requirements. Domestic passenger traffic also improved, reaching 84.6% of April 2019 levels, up from the 77.5% posted in March. Effective April 7, 2022, Covid tests are no longer required and travelers must complete an affidavit form. In addition, foreigners are required to present a Covid-19 health insurance.
In Italy, passenger traffic grew 13.8x YoY and stood at 78.1% of April 2019 levels, showing a strong sequential improvement from the 68.2% posted in March. Travel restrictions have eased during the last couple of months and passengers are now just required to present a negative Covid-19 test or a vaccination certificate.
In Brazil, total passenger traffic increased 136.5% YoY, and reached 73.0% of April 2019 pre-pandemic levels, slightly below the 76.5% recorded in March. Domestic traffic, which accounted for 73% of total traffic, stood at 84.9% of pre-pandemic levels whereas transit passengers reached 53.9% of April 2019 levels.
Total passenger traffic in Uruguay increased 7.7x YoY and reached 63.4% of April 2019 levels, up from the 57.9% posted in March. Traffic in Uruguay continues to improve following the full re-open of borders on November 1, 2021 together with the gradual relaxation of travel requirements.
In Ecuador, passenger traffic increased 170.2% YoY, reaching 95.2% of April 2019 levels, up from the 88.5% posted in March. International passenger traffic continued to recover reaching 94.9% of pre-pandemic levels, boosted by routes to Europe, as well as the US and Panama, which have been seeing higher passenger traffic than in 2019 for several months now. Domestic passenger traffic also improved to 95.3% of April 2019 pre-pandemic levels, up from the 69.6% and 87.5% posted in February and March, respectively.
In Armenia, total passenger traffic increased 56.0% YoY. Passenger traffic continued performing well and stood at 96.4% of April 2019 levels, improving slightly from the 95.1% recorded in March.
Cargo volume decreased 1.2% YoY and stood at 79.9% of April 2019 levels, or at 80.8% when adjusting for the discontinuation in Peru. Close to 80% of cargo volume came from Argentina, Ecuador and Uruguay, which reported volumes at 89.3%, 85.0% and 107.0% of April 2019 pre-pandemic levels.
Aircraft movements increased 92.3% YoY and stood at 85.7% of April 2019 levels, or at 88.8% adjusting for the discontinuation in Peru. Aircraft movements in Argentina, which accounted for more than half of total movement, stood at 87.0% of pre-pandemic levels. To note, aircraft movements in Ecuador and Armenia was above April 2019 levels and stood at over 97% of pre-pandemic levels in Uruguay.
