We are far from the ten million travelers envisaged before the health crisis. Last year, more than seven million people landed or took off from Toulouse-Blagnac airport (ATB)while they were 9.6 million in 2019. If the platform has not returned to its pre-Covid-19 level, the end of 2022 showed signs of recovery according to Philippe Crebassa, the president of its executive board, which still plans to return to its pre-crisis level by 2025.
“In January 2022, traffic was 56% of that of 2019, while it was 86% in December. Traffic with Paris airports remains the most important for the platform and represents 34% of the airport’s activity, but travel habits have changed and we are recording fewer “business” passengers”, recognizes the ATB manager. . Between teleworking and questions of energy sobriety, companies are now asking themselves the question before sending their employees to Paris for half-day meetings that are entirely feasible by videoconference.
A change that the platform must integrate into its strategic choices to maintain and develop its traffic. Just like the arrival in 2032 of the high-speed line which will put the Pink City three hours from the capital and will reduce by domino effect the frequentation of the shuttle to Paris which still represents a third of its traffic. “We are preparing for it, our future is above all international,” confirms Philippe Crébassa, who notes a keen interest in European and more distant destinations and also hopes to bring tourists, particularly North Americans, to Toulouse by plane.
Doha and Montreal to develop internationally
The direct service to the Middle Kingdom, and its hordes of tourists, seems to have vanished with the departure of the airport’s Chinese shareholders in 2019. The current shareholders are counting in particular on the arrival of two new “major” companies to open new markets. This is the case with Air Canada, which will provide five weekly flights to Montreal from June and will connect the North American continent and will complete the Air Transat offer. But also Qatar Airways which announced its arrival on the platform with a direct connection to Doha.
“The connection to Doha will offer a connection to 174 possible destinations”, explains Bruno Balerdi, the commercial director of the airport. And a service to Asia and Oceania. This summer, ATB will offer 86 destinations, compared to 79 last year, including 11 new ones, notably Florence, Krakow or Birmingham.