2021; Eindhoven Airport had a poor first half year followed by recovery

From a business perspective, 2021 was a year with two faces for Eindhoven Airport. After a poor first six months because of the corona pandemic, recovery set in from July onwards. After that, too, air traffic remained level. As a result, the second half of the year looked better. Travel remained an important need despite corona. Airport employees continued to work closely together to enable safe and responsible travel in 2021. As in 2020, employees of Eindhoven Airport and its partner companies moved with changing circumstances due to the corona pandemic. For example, a number of shops and the Aspire Lounge at the airport were forced to close temporarily. Other partners in hospitality and retail restricted opening hours.

2021 was also the year when the airport achieved some milestones. For example, the canopy of the walkways on the apron was completed. This increases the comfort for travellers as the canopy protects them from the weather. In addition, the gallery is a calling card for the Brainport region as its design gives ample attention to icons of the region such as PSV, Van Gogh and Brainport. The redesigned and therefore clearer and more pleasant security area was also delivered. In addition, the launch of Power Up by Eindhoven Airport and Groningen, Rotterdam/The Hague and Maastricht airports was a milestone. The initiative in which tests are conducted with electric flying is supported by the Royal Schiphol Group and the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre. The aim is to gain knowledge of the feasibility, potential and handling of electric flights. Eindhoven Airport and the other partners assume that the first electric flights between Dutch airports will be carried out in 2026.

Eindhoven Airport continued contact and information and exchange with the surrounding area in 2021 with the aim of fulfilling former explorer Pieter van Geel's advice to arrive at a noise reduction standard. Eindhoven Airport maintained its focus on making the airport more sustainable. For example, initial explorations were carried out together with parties in the Brainport region for the airport's ambition to become energy self-sufficient. Further research into energy generation and storage at the airport will be carried out in 2022.

In 2021, 2.7 million passengers traveled to/from Eindhoven Airport. They were 2.1 million in 2020-the first corona year. Eindhoven Airport had 21,704 flight movements in 2021. That's about 15 percent more than in 2020. The number of destinations was 79; the same as in the previous year. Seven new destinations were added; in 2020 this was 5.