The number of take-offs and landings at Munich Airport has declined steadily in due to the coronavirus pandemic, with the airport saying they had plummeted to less than 10 per cent this week when compared to the corresponding week in 2019.

Airports all around the world are currently experiencing massive decreases in airline operations, and Munich Airport confirmed on 27 March that its passenger traffic is now at just five percent of last year’s level.

Flughafen München GmbH and its subsidiaries began to implement far-reaching measures to secure the airport’s liquidity several weeks ago which include a groupwide set of measures to impose tight limits on personnel and material costs to bring about extensive savings in all areas.

This has led to planned investment projects such as the western parking facility, the new corporate headquarters and the new budget hotel being postponed until further notice.

“We are experiencing a crisis in global air transportation on an unprecedented scale, with no end in sight. Protecting the health of the passengers and employees at Munich Airport remains our top priority”, Munich Airport president and CEO Jost Lammers said.

“Another vital concern is to limit the enormous economic damage for Munich Airport and the people working here by taking all necessary measures to preserve our financial stability.”

Continuing essential operations

To help stranded passengers get home and keep cargo shipments moving quickly, Munich Airport says it will continue to operate. Unused infrastructure in the A, B and D areas of Terminal 1 and the Terminal 2 satellite facility have been temporarily shut down.

“Our goal this year is to adjust our economic and financial fundamentals to the current situation and the dry spell that lies ahead. In doing so, we will benefit from Munich Airport’s strong economic performance over the years and especially in 2019,” Lammers explained.