According to ACI EUROPE’s 2025 Airport Traffic Report, European airports broke an all-time record with 2.6 billion passengers. Growth came from international traffic.
The 2025 Airport Traffic Report published today by ACI EUROPE revealed that European air passenger traffic demonstrated strong resilience despite stagnant European economies, high ticket prices, capacity pressures, and geopolitical uncertainties.
Historic Record at European Airports
In 2025, passenger traffic across the European airport network increased by 4.4% compared to the previous year, reaching 2.6 billion passengers. This increase enabled European airports to accommodate an additional 100 million passengers and was recorded as an absolute all-time record for the sector.
While growth momentum was maintained throughout the year, a 6.1% increase in the fourth quarter strengthened positive expectations for 2026.
International Traffic Drove Growth
Growth was entirely driven by international passenger traffic. International passenger numbers increased by 5.6%, while domestic passenger traffic rose only 0.2% and remained largely flat.
Non-EU+ airports outperformed EU+ airports, recording a 6.2% increase in passenger traffic compared with a 4% increase at EU+ airports. This gap was influenced by the maturation of the EU market and rising demand for destinations outside the EU.
Imbalance Continues Despite Records
Although many European airports broke passenger records in 2025, 41% of airports still closed the year below 2019 levels. ACI EUROPE attributes this situation to increasing traffic volatility, airline consolidation, and intense competition among airports.
ACI EUROPE: “Aviation Is a Strategic Economic Force”
ACI EUROPE Director General Olivier Jankovec said the following in his assessment of the report:
“Last year’s traffic performance once again demonstrated that air connectivity is a strong and largely resilient economic driver increasingly intertwined with tourism. The rise of experiential consumption reflects a structural transformation in which Europe is uniquely well positioned. Despite this, many governments — particularly in the EU — still do not view aviation as a strategic asset.”
2026 Outlook: Growth Continues, Bottlenecks Pose Risks
According to Jankovec, passenger traffic at European airports is expected to grow by approximately 3.3% in 2026. Limited improvement in economic expectations and the continued prioritisation of travel in consumer spending are expected to support growth.
However, infrastructure capacity constraints, supply chain issues, and the full implementation of the Schengen Entry/Exit System in April 2026 are cited among the major risks for the sector.
Türkiye and Regional Performance Drew Attention
Turkish airports recorded a 5.8% passenger increase in 2025, placing the country among Europe’s largest markets. Airports based in Istanbul in particular delivered strong performance.
Europe’s Top 5 Busiest Airports by Passenger Numbers (2025):
- London Heathrow: 84.48 million (+0.7%)
- Istanbul Airport: 84.44 million (+5.5%)
- Paris CDG: 72.02 million (+2.5%)
- Amsterdam Schiphol: 68.77 million (+2.9%)
- Madrid: 68.12 million (+3%)
Among major airports, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen stood out with a 16.7% increase, reaching 48.41 million passengers.
Moderate Increase in Cargo and Aircraft Movements
- Cargo traffic: +3.2%
- Aircraft movements: +3.2%
In cargo traffic, Frankfurt surpassed Istanbul to become Europe’s busiest cargo airport.
