Nuremberg Airport marked a first in its 70-year history by welcoming its 4.5 millionth passenger. This record, broken just days before the end of the year, pointed to growth well above the German average.
With only days left until the new year, Nuremberg Airport reached the highest passenger number in its history. By welcoming its 4.5 millionth passenger, the airport also surpassed its previous record set in 2018. Passenger numbers increased by 12 per cent compared to the previous year. As of November 2025, this figure was well above the approximate nationwide average growth of around 3.5 per cent in Germany.
Record Passengers on the New Year’s Eve Flight
On 31 December 2025, passengers checking in for Corendon Airlines flight XR563 from Nuremberg to Gran Canaria were greeted with a surprise. Petra Beer and Waldemar Strzelczyk, who live near Erlangen, were honoured with a special gift as Nuremberg Airport’s 4.5 millionth passengers.
The couple received a voucher granting them free access to the airport’s Dürer Lounge for 4.5 years. Beer and Strzelczyk set off to welcome the new year in the warm climate of the Canary Islands.
“Double-Digit Growth Shows We Are on the Right Track”
Nuremberg Airport CEO Dr Michael Hupe expressed his satisfaction with the achievement in the following words:
“We are very proud of this achievement. Strong demand and our double-digit growth show that we are on the right track with our strategy. In particular, our sales activities with leisure and low-cost airlines have increased the range of flights offered to residents of the metropolitan region while also strengthening regional tourism.”
New Routes and Capacity Increase for 2026
Dr Hupe underlined that expectations for 2026 are also positive, announcing that capacity will be increased on many existing routes and that new destinations such as Rabat and Bodrum will be added to the flight schedule.
Second Corendon Aircraft in Nuremberg
The fact that the 4.5 millionth passenger travelled on a Corendon Airlines aircraft aligns with the airline’s growth strategy at Nuremberg Airport. Corendon has been operating regular flights to Nuremberg since 2005 and has operated a base at the airport since 2019.
In line with rising passenger demand, Corendon will station a second aircraft in Nuremberg from May 2026. The airline aims to offer up to 14 holiday destinations from Nuremberg.
