The final figures from Roland-Garros airport for 2020 confirm the first estimates : over the year, traffic dropped by 58,2%. The platform welcomed 1,040,139 passengers – a level equivalent to that of 1993 – compared to almost 2,5 million in 2019. Traffic collapsed from March, when the Covid-19 pandemic led to the gradual closure of borders. On the mainland-Reunion axis, where trade links have never been completely interrupted, the drop in the number of passengers stands at 47,5%. It reaches 72% on regional lines, all closed from the end of March with the exception of Mayotte. Activity has only resumed for a very limited number of flights to Mauritius and Madagascar from the end of the third quarter.
Long-haul lines reaching Bangkok (Thailand), Chennai (Inde) et Guangzhou (China), most affected by the pandemic, saw their attendance drop by 81% on average.
In the field of freight, the decline in activity resulting from the reduction in the number of passenger flights, therefore hold capacities, was partially compensated by special all-cargo flights. Throughout 2020, the tonnages processed (24,185 tonnes) fell by 16,9%. The decline was less marked in exports (-12,6%) than when importing (-18,7%), thanks to shipments of pelagic fish and particularly abundant fruit production at the end of the year, which required the establishment of special cargo flights to Paris. In the month of December 2020 alone, air exports from Reunion thus increased by 13,2%.
Historic decline in air traffic in 2020
