Hannover Airport Eyes Growth and Sustainability in 2024 and Beyond

At Routes Europe 2024 in Aarhus, Hannover Airport (HAJ) highlighted its strategic focus on enhancing long-haul connectivity and advancing sustainability initiatives.

Located in Niedersachsen’s capital, Hannover, HAJ serves a region with over 22 million residents. The airport’s 24/7 operations, three runways, and unrestricted infrastructure position it as a prime hub for both business and leisure travel.

In the past year, HAJ has significantly expanded its offerings. Eurowings has established HAJ as a new base, adding 10 direct destinations to its summer 2024 schedule. New routes include Faro in Portugal, Malaga in Spain, and several Italian cities, such as Rome, Catania, Naples, Bari, Olbia, and Lamezia Terme. Additional services to Stockholm, Milan Bergamo, and Pula in Croatia are set to begin in May 2024.

Martin Roll, CEO of Hannover Airport, emphasized the airport’s goal of sustaining its recent growth, which saw a 22% increase in passenger numbers in the first quarter of the year. HAJ is actively engaging with leisure carriers to expand its European footprint and with hub carriers to increase international flight options.

Looking further ahead, HAJ is focused on strengthening its intercontinental connections, particularly with Asia and the Middle East. While the airport already maintains a strong link to Istanbul, there are plans to introduce new services to Gulf countries, enhancing connectivity to Asia. Discussions at Routes events have also opened opportunities for expanding services to North America and China.

Sustainability remains a top priority for HAJ, with significant investments planned to support electric and hybrid aircraft. “Sustainability is a key issue for us. Compared to the year 2000, we have already reduced our CO2 emissions by more than half, and we aim to be CO2 free by 2045,” Roll stated. HAJ is committed to leading in next-generation aircraft technology as part of its broader sustainability objectives.

Hannover Airport’s presence at Routes Europe 2024, featuring engaging stand activities, underscored its ambition to enhance global awareness of Hannover as a key destination. Roll highlighted the city’s attractiveness due to its large industrial base, business travelers, and strong leisure and VFR (visiting friends and relatives) traffic. “We need to make Hannover more known across the world, which is why we have this great stand this year,” Roll added.