Air traffic in Italy signals a return to pre-pandemic era

ROME, ITALY - NOVEMBER 11: Italy's air traffic, which came to a standstill due to coronavirus measures such as the closure of the borders and travel ban, started to signal a return to the pre-epidemic in terms of intensity with the recovery of the economies. In Italy, which is one of the first and most severely affected countries in Europe by the COVID-10 pandemic, air traffic also showed signs of moderate recovery, especially in the summer months. According to a statement by the state-owned air traffic control operator ENAV, air traffic increased by 24.1 percent in the first nine months of 2021 compared to the same period of 2020. ENAV stated that air traffic rose 39.7 percent in domestic flights and 8.5 percent in international flights in the January-September period. The number of aircraft passing non-stop using Italian airspace also increased by 30.6 percent in the same period. Passenger density at the terminals was 14.5 percent higher in the nine months of 2021 compared to 2020. Meanwhile, in Rome, Fiumicino Airport, which is one of the major airports of the country, stands out as one of the airports where air traffic and passenger density have grown. It was noteworthy that passenger densities similar to the pre-pandemic period were observed at the check-in counters and security check lines at Fiumicino Airport. (Footage by Baris Seckin‌/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)