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2 NEWS 07.01.2021 Malta sees 34,000 fewer flights in 2020 NICOLE MEILAK MALTA experienced a loss in air traffic of 58%, or 35,000 fewer flights, compared to 2019 due to the COVID-19 grounding of air travel. A Eurocontrol study on the impact of the pandemic forecasts an expected re- covery to 51% of 2019 levels in 2021 for the aviation industry, with increased re- covery expected from summer onwards. 2020 closed out with only five million total flights throughout Europe – a stark contrast to the 11.1 million flights that took place in 2019. e March-May pe- riod dealt the heaviest blow to the indus- try. In terms of year-on-year traffic, March closed off at an 86.1% loss from the cor- responding 2019 period, for a 4,202 daily average of flights. In April, traffic bot- tomed out at a 92.8% decrease, or 2,099 daily flights. Average flights among the top 10 Eu- ropean airlines declined by 45-67%. Ryanair, Europe's largest airline, saw a decrease of 59% with a daily operating average of just 951 daily flights over the year. e flights that did take place in 2020 were at best half full, according to the report. COVID-19 had a highly uneven im- pact on various market segments in the industry. All-cargo flights were the least negatively affected with a 1% decline compared to 2019. anks to increased demand for medical supplies and other goods, this segment saw its market share double from 3% to 6%. Business aviation took a softer blow. e sector almost completely recovered to 2019 levels throughout the summer period as businesses sought connectivity when scheduled connections were una- vailable. Low-cost carriers and traditional scheduled carriers were the worst-hit. e low-cost carriers recovered fairly quicker than traditional carriers over the summer, but the latter weathered the height of the pandemic slightly better due to the need for cargo ops and repa- triations. At year end, 51% of European fleets were grounded. From 8,048 airframes, 4,118 were parked up and inactive for more than seven days at the end of 2020. However this is a marked improvement compared to last April when 87% had been placed out of service. Madrid Barajas International Airport tops the list with most grounded aircraft, with 132 units in storage. e report highlights that aircraft models like the Boeing 747 and some Airbus 380 are unlikely to return to pas- senger operations, while airlines have announced purchase deferrals and accel- erated retirements of older aircraft. IN November 2020, industrial producer prices rose by 0.4% in both the euro area and the EU, compared with October 2020, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In October 2020, prices increased by 0.4% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU. In November 2020, compared with No- vember 2019, industrial producer prices decreased by 1.9% in the euro area and by 1.8% in the EU. Monthly comparison by main industrial grouping and by Member State Industrial producer prices in the euro area in November 2020, compared with October 2020, increased by 1.3% in the energy sector, by 0.3% for intermediate goods and by 0.1% for durable consumer goods, while prices remained stable for capital goods and non-durable consumer goods. Prices in total industry excluding energy increased by 0.1%. In the EU, industrial producer prices increased by 1.4% in the energy sector, and by 0.2% for intermediate goods and durable consumer goods, while prices re- mained stable for non-durable consumer goods and decreased by 0.1% for capital goods. Prices in total industry excluding energy increased by 0.1%. e highest increases in industrial pro- ducer prices were recorded in Denmark and France (both +1.7%), Estonia (+1.2%) and Romania (+1.1%), while the largest de- creases were observed in Ireland ( 1.4%), Slovakia ( 0.7%) and Czechia ( 0.5%). Annual comparison by main industrial grouping and by Member State Industrial producer prices in the euro area in November 2020, compared with November 2019, decreased by 7.5% in the energy sector, by 0.6% for interme- diate goods and by 0.1% for non durable consumer goods, while prices rose by 0.8% for capital goods and by 1.2% for durable consumer goods. Prices in to- tal industry excluding energy remained stable. In the EU, industrial producer prices decreased by 7.5% in the energy sector and by 0.5% for intermediate goods, while prices rose by 0.1% for non durable con- sumer goods, by 0.9% for capital goods and by 1.5% for durable consumer goods. Prices in total industry excluding energy increased by 0.2%. e largest decreases in industrial pro- ducer prices were observed in Lithua- nia (-7.3%), Greece (-6.8%) and Cyprus ( 6.1%), while the only increases were recorded in Malta (+1.8%), Hungary and Slovenia (both +1.1%). Industrial producer prices up by 0.4% in both euro area and EU

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