European Passenger Traffic Surges Past Pre-Pandemic Levels

Passenger traffic across Europe exceeded pre-pandemic levels in the first half of 2024 (H1), with a notable 9% increase compared to the same period last year, according to Airports Council International (ACI) Europe. Traffic volumes for H1 2024 are 0.4% above those of H1 2019, marking a significant recovery for the industry.

The second quarter of 2024 (Q2) continued to show strong growth, driven by a 10.3% increase in international traffic. Despite the overall rise, ACI Europe Director General Olivier Jankovec highlights a fragmented airport market, with only 53% of airports fully recovering their pre-pandemic passenger volumes by June.

Jankovec attributes this fragmentation to structural changes in demand, with growth in leisure, visiting friends and relatives (VFR) travel, as well as the expansion of ultra-low-cost carriers (ULCCs) and Turkish Airlines. He notes that aviation markets in Eastern Europe and Central Asia are particularly dynamic, influenced by ongoing geopolitical factors.

Looking ahead, ACI Europe anticipates record passenger traffic during the summer months, despite challenges such as recent global IT outages, air traffic management capacity shortages, and aircraft delivery delays. The performance for the remainder of the year will depend on the resilience of demand amid mixed macroeconomic signals, including falling inflation and stable unemployment rates.

In the EU+ market (European Union countries plus Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and the UK), passenger traffic saw a 9.5% increase in H1 2024, reaching pre-pandemic levels. Poland (+24.5%), Greece (+23.9%), and Malta (+19.1%) saw the strongest performance compared to June 2019. In contrast, Finland (-26.4%), Slovenia (-21.5%), and Bulgaria (-20.5%) lagged in recovery.

Among major markets, Italy (+13.1%) and Spain (+8%) led in passenger traffic growth, while the UK (-1.1%), France (-4%), and Germany (-17%) experienced declines. Airports outside the EU+ region posted a 5.8% increase in H1 2024, with notable growth in Albania (+243%), Uzbekistan (+202%), Armenia (+78%), and Kazakhstan (+67%).

The top five European airports handled a total of 174.6 million passengers in H1 2024, an 8% increase from last year and 2% above H1 2019 levels. London Heathrow remained the busiest European airport with 39.8 million passengers, followed by Istanbul, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Amsterdam Schiphol, and Madrid. Other major airports with significant growth included Rome Fiumicino (+26%), Antalya (+19.8%), Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (+16.6%), and Athens (+16.1%).