From a business economic point of view, 2021 was a year with two faces for Eindhoven Airport. After a poor first six months due to the corona pandemic, the recovery started from July. Air traffic remained stable after that. As a result, the second half of the year looked better. Despite corona, travel remained an important need. Airport employees continued to work closely together in 2021 to enable safe and responsible travel. Employees of Eindhoven Airport and its partner companies moved along with the changing circumstances as a result of the corona pandemic, just like in 2020. For example, a number of shops and the Aspire Lounge at the airport were forced to temporarily close. Other partners in catering and retail limited opening hours.
2021 was also the year in which the airport reached some milestones. For example, the covering of the walkways on the platform was completed. This increases the comfort for travelers because the canopy protects them against the weather. In addition, the gallery is a calling card for the Brainport region because its design pays ample attention to icons from the region such as PSV, Van Gogh and Brainport. The redesigned and therefore clearer and more pleasant security area was also completed.
In addition, the launch of Power Up by Eindhoven Airport and the airports of Groningen, Rotterdam/The Hague and Maastricht was a milestone. The initiative in which tests are being carried out with electric flying is supported by the Royal Schiphol Group and the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Center. 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 the contact and the provision of information and exchange with the surrounding area in 2021 with the aim of implementing the advice of former explorer Pieter van Geel to arrive at a standard for noise reduction. Eindhoven Airport maintained its focus on making the airport more sustainable. For example, together with parties in the Brainport region, initial explorations were carried out for the airport's ambition to become energy self-sufficient. In 2022, further research will be conducted into the generation and storage of energy at the airport.
In 2021, 2,7 million passengers traveled to/from Eindhoven Airport. In 2020 - the first corona year - there were 2,1 million. Eindhoven Airport had 2021 flight movements in 21.704. That is approximately 15 percent more than in 2020. The number of destinations was 79; just like in the year before. 7 new destinations were added; in 2020 it was 5, according to Eindhoven Airport.
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