SWITZERLAND. Zürich Airport retail and dining turnover reached CHF44.5 million (US$44.7 million) in May, a leap of +121.1% compared to May 2021. Encouraging, the figure was around 83% of the CHF53.5 million (US$53.8 million) recorded in pre-pandemic May 2019.
Within the latest monthly number, CHF23.7 million came from airside sales and the balance from landside, with growth much higher in the airside environment as international travellers returned.
Airside spend per departing passenger slipped by +14.4% year-on-year to CHF24.40 (US$24.53). The figures were buoyed by a more than tripling of passenger traffic (+330%) year-on-year to 1.94 million in the month.
In the first five months, passenger traffic leapt by over +370% year-on-year to 6.97 million. This helped to boost commercial sales in the period to CHF170.2 million (US$171 million), well over double last year’s figure, with airside business the major driver.
Airside spend per departing passenger year-to-date reached CHF24.10 (US$24.22), down by -7.4% year-on-year.
Zürich Airport passenger numbers are forecast rise to around 20 million in 2022, or two-thirds of pre-pandemic levels. In 2021, passenger traffic reached 10.2 million. The airport company also predicts a return to profit this year.
