<p>Nearly 200 European airports risk insolvency in the coming months if passenger traffic does not recover, a trade association warned on Tuesday, as nations contemplate further lockdowns to combat a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.</p>.<p>ACI Europe said the 193 airports facing insolvency are mainly regional airports which serve local communities.</p>.<p>But combined they support more than a quarter of a million jobs and 12 billion euros ($15.6 billion) in gross domestic product.</p>.<p>"The threat of airport closure means Europe faces the prospect of the collapse of a significant part of its air transport system -- unless governments step up to provide the required support," said the trade association.</p>.<p>A number of European nations have moved to provide specific help for airlines in addition to support measures offered to all companies hit by pandemic-related restrictions.</p>.<p>ACI Europe's figures show airport passenger traffic was down 75 percent in mid-October, which means airports -- like airlines -- have trouble covering operating costs.</p>.<p>The trade body called on European nations to shift to testing air passengers for coronavirus rather than imposing quarantines on travellers.</p>
<p>Nearly 200 European airports risk insolvency in the coming months if passenger traffic does not recover, a trade association warned on Tuesday, as nations contemplate further lockdowns to combat a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.</p>.<p>ACI Europe said the 193 airports facing insolvency are mainly regional airports which serve local communities.</p>.<p>But combined they support more than a quarter of a million jobs and 12 billion euros ($15.6 billion) in gross domestic product.</p>.<p>"The threat of airport closure means Europe faces the prospect of the collapse of a significant part of its air transport system -- unless governments step up to provide the required support," said the trade association.</p>.<p>A number of European nations have moved to provide specific help for airlines in addition to support measures offered to all companies hit by pandemic-related restrictions.</p>.<p>ACI Europe's figures show airport passenger traffic was down 75 percent in mid-October, which means airports -- like airlines -- have trouble covering operating costs.</p>.<p>The trade body called on European nations to shift to testing air passengers for coronavirus rather than imposing quarantines on travellers.</p>