Passenger traffic at European airports exceeded pre-pandemic levels for the first time in 2024, marking a significant turning point for the aviation industry. According to official data from ACI EUROPE, the total number of passengers at European airports reached 5 billion, recording an increase of 7.4% compared to 2023 and exceeding 2019 levels by 1.8%. However, this recovery was not uniform across all markets, as 47% of airports remain below pre-pandemic levels due to geopolitical tensions and changes in demand.
Growth momentum and structural changes
The growth in passenger traffic was mainly driven by international flights, which increased by 8.8% compared to 2023, in contrast to domestic travel which recorded a smaller increase of 2.5% and remained 6.3% below 2019 levels. The increase in traffic was impressive in the first half of the year (+8.9%), while in the second half the growth was more moderate (+6%).
This development reflects structural changes in the transport market, such as the increasing shift towards rail travel, the strengthening of cross-border mobility within the EU, and the rapid rise in demand in emerging markets outside Europe.
“Travellers prioritise experiences”
ACI EUROPE Director General Olivier Jankovets commented:
“European airports welcomed 200 million more passengers in 2024, with many setting records. This was achieved despite rising airfares, supply pressures, weak economic growth, and geopolitical tensions. It is clear that consumers are now prioritizing experiences and travel.”
However, he stressed that the recovery was not balanced across Europe, as low-cost carriers (LCCs), leisure travel demand, and market concentration drove passenger traffic. In 2025, ACI EUROPE forecasts a 4% increase in passenger traffic, although risks from geopolitical developments, aircraft shortages, and aviation policies remain.
Trends in different markets
In the EU+ market, passenger traffic increased by 7.8% in 2024, outpacing the growth rate of the rest of the European area (+5.2%). Eastern European markets and countries based on inbound tourism recorded the highest growth:
Hungary and Czech Republic (+18.9%)
Estonia (+18%)
Poland (+15.6%)
Malta (+14.8%)
Croatia (+13.7%)
Italy (+11%)
Greece (+10.1%)
Impressive growth was seen in Albania (+47.5%), Moldova (+46%), Uzbekistan (+36.6%) and Bosnia & Herzegovina (+33.8%).
In contrast, 20 national markets remain below pre-pandemic levels, with Finland (-24.9%), Sweden (-23.1%), Israel (-38.9%) and of course Ukraine (-100%) recording the largest losses.
Europe’s top airports
The 5 airports with the highest passenger traffic in 2024 were:
London Heathrow – 83.9 million passengers (+5.9% from 2023, +3.7% from 2019)
Istanbul – 80.1 million passengers (+5.3%, +16.9% from 2019)
Paris Charles de Gaulle – 70.3 million passengers (+4.3%, -7.7% from 2019)
Amsterdam Schiphol – 66.8 million passengers (+8%, -6.8% from 2019)
Madrid – 66.1 million passengers (+9.9%, +7.2% from 2019)
Greek airports on the international map
Athens airport recorded strong growth, with an increase of 13.1% compared to 2023 and 24.5% above 2019 levels. At the same time, Heraklion Airport showed an increase of 18% from 2023 and 18.2% from 2019, confirming the importance of Greek tourism in the overall market recovery.
Challenges for smaller airports
Although the overall picture is positive, smaller airports with less than 1 million passengers recorded the lowest growth (+5%) and remain 34.5% below 2019 levels. This trend highlights the need for targeted support policies, especially in view of the new European rules on state aid.
Optimism with conditions
2024 marked a dynamic recovery for the European aviation industry, with many countries and airports recording historical highs. However, the recovery was not uniform, as factors such as geopolitical uncertainty, the digital transition of airlines, and changing travel habits continue to affect the market. 2025 is expected with interest, with the challenge of maintaining growth amid uncertain economic and geopolitical developments.
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