Airport passenger traffic in Europe surpasses levels seen before the Covid-19 pandemic.
European airports welcomed an additional 200 million passengers last year, according to Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, a trade group representing over 600 airports in 55 countries. The significant growth was primarily due to a resurgence in international passenger travel, with a 8.8% rise in international traffic and a slight decrease of 0.2% in domestic traffic.
Olivier Jankovec, the director general of ACI Europe, noted that the growth was achieved despite inflated air fares, continued supply pressures, tepid economic growth, and geopolitical tensions. He described the current European airport market as "multi-speed," with competitive pressures continually rising.
The recovery in passenger volumes to full pre-pandemic levels was accomplished in 2024, with continued increases into 2025. This implies that travelers now face fewer flight restrictions and improved, although more expensive, travel options. The growth was driven entirely by international passenger traffic, which rose by about 4.3%, while domestic traffic slightly declined.
Positive performance was especially notable in various Eastern European airports and countries within the EU+ market, such as Slovakia (+33%), Hungary (+15.3%), Poland (+13.7%), and Cyprus (+10.9%), which contributed to overall growth.
However, nearly half of Europe's airports remained below their pre-Covid traffic levels in 2024, according to Jankovic. He forecasted a four-percent rise in passenger traffic this year but warned that it would have to be kept "under review" due to global political and economic uncertainties.
The main factors contributing to the rise in European airport passenger traffic in 2024 were strong international passenger demand and leisure travel prioritization, recovery from the pandemic enabling full passenger volume restoration, growth concentrated in certain regional markets with improved local performances, and consumers facing fewer travel restrictions despite some operational and regulatory challenges.
Passengers are prioritizing travel and leisure more, reflecting a broader consumer trend toward experiential consumption over material goods. Despite challenges such as aircraft shortages, maintenance issues, air traffic management disruptions, and punitive aviation taxes affecting connectivity, consumer demand remained robust.
The growth in passenger traffic indicates a recovery in air travel post-pandemic, but the overall connectivity in Europe remains below pre-pandemic levels, indicating structural and policy issues still impacting air travel growth long-term.
[1] ACI Europe: European Air Traffic Report 2024 [2] European Commission: Aviation Strategy for Europe [3] International Air Transport Association: European Aviation Outlook 2024-2040
- The resurgence in international passenger travel, as seen in the recovery of European airport traffic, is indicative of a lifestyle shift where people prioritize travel and leisure experiences over material goods.
- Improved travel options and growth in international passenger traffic suggest that travel is becoming an essential aspect of the modern European lifestyle, despite ongoing challenges such as aircraft shortages and regulatory issues.
