European Airport Traffic Grows in May 2025 Amid Uneven Regional Recovery

Key Takeaways

• European airport passenger traffic rose 3.4% in May 2025, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 8%.
• International travel grew 4.3%, while domestic travel declined slightly by 0.2% in May 2025.
• Moldova led growth at +41.9%, with 44% of European airports still below pre-pandemic volumes.

European Airport Traffic in May 2025: Analysis of Passenger Trends, Regional Gaps, and the Road Ahead

Purpose and Scope

This analysis examines the latest trends in European airport traffic for May 2025, focusing on passenger traffic, international travel, and the uneven recovery across different regions. Drawing on data from ACI Europe and industry commentary, the report explores how international demand, policy pressures, and market dynamics are shaping the current landscape. The aim is to provide a clear, evidence-based overview for travelers, airport authorities, airlines, and policymakers interested in the state of European air travel.

Methodology

The findings in this report are based on official passenger and freight traffic statistics published by ACI Europe, as well as commentary from industry leaders and airport authorities. The analysis covers:

• Year-on-year and pre-pandemic comparisons for passenger volumes
• Performance by country, airport size, and market segment
• Trends in international versus domestic travel
• Cargo traffic developments
• Policy and structural factors influencing recovery

Data is presented using tables and bullet points for clarity. Where appropriate, comparisons and trends are highlighted to help readers understand the broader context.

Key Findings Upfront

• European airport passenger traffic grew by 3.4% year-on-year in May 2025, with volumes now 8% above pre-pandemic (May 2019) levels.
• International travel drove all growth (+4.3% vs. May 2024), while domestic travel slightly declined (‑0.2%).
• Airports outside the EU+ (including Moldova 🇲🇩, Bosnia & Herzegovina 🇧🇦, Georgia 🇬🇪, Israel 🇮🇱, Kazakhstan 🇰🇿) outperformed, with Moldova leading at +41.9%.
• Major EU+ airports grew more slowly (+2.7%), with London-Heathrow remaining the busiest.
• Small airports saw the fastest growth (+11%), but are still 26.7% below pre-pandemic levels.
• 44% of European airports remain below their pre-pandemic Q1 2019 passenger volumes.
• Freight traffic declined overall, though some airports reported modest cargo growth.
• Tourism-driven and VFR (visiting friends and relatives) markets are leading the recovery, while regions with high taxes and regulatory burdens lag behind.

Data Presentation and Visual Descriptions

To make the trends clear, the following table summarizes the performance of key airports in May 2025:

Comparisons, Trends, and Patterns

International Travel vs. Domestic Travel

• International travel is the main driver of growth, up 4.3% compared to May 2024.
• Domestic travel declined slightly by 0.2%, showing that most of the recovery is coming from people flying between countries rather than within them.

Regional Performance

• Airports outside the EU+ saw the strongest growth, especially in Moldova 🇲🇩 (+41.9%), Bosnia & Herzegovina 🇧🇦 (+30.5%), Georgia 🇬🇪 (+23.4%), Israel 🇮🇱 (+17.5%), and Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 (+14.5%).
• Türkiye’s growth slowed to +1.8%, while Russia experienced a 9.2% decline in passenger volumes.
• Major EU+ airports grew at a slower pace, with London-Heathrow, Istanbul, and Paris CDG leading in total passenger numbers.
• Small airports (those with fewer than 1 million passengers) grew the fastest at +11%, but they are still 26.7% below their pre-pandemic numbers.

Tourism and VFR Demand

• Airports in countries popular for tourism and visiting friends and relatives—like Spain 🇪🇸, Portugal 🇵🇹, Italy 🇮🇹, Greece 🇬🇷, and Poland 🇵🇱—continue to outperform the rest of Europe.
• Regional airports serving these markets, such as Varna (+40.1%), Tivat (+21.9%), Cork (+17.5%), and Girona (+15.3%), are seeing strong growth.

Underperforming Regions

• Scandinavian countries and France 🇫🇷 are lagging behind, with some airports still up to 40% below pre-pandemic levels.
• High sectoral taxes and a decline in regional jet operations are key reasons for this slow recovery.

Market Segments and Competitive Dynamics

• Major airports (over 40 million passengers) are growing slowly, while small airports are rebounding faster but have not yet reached their pre-pandemic passenger numbers.
• Low-cost carrier (LCC) bases showed mixed results in May 2025. For example:
  • Bergamo: ‑0.8%
  • Beauvais: +3.6%
  • Charleroi: +5.7%
• Regional connectivity is being challenged by a sharp drop in regional jet flights, now making up less than 5% of all European departures. This is making it harder for smaller airports to offer a wide range of routes.

Cargo Trends

• Freight traffic declined overall in Europe in May 2025.
• Some airports, like Frankfurt (+4.4%) and Schiphol (slight increase), reported growth in cargo volumes, especially on passenger flights.
• Most airports, however, saw a drop in freight traffic, reflecting broader economic pressures.

Policy, Stakeholder Perspectives, and Structural Issues

• ACI Europe and industry leaders are calling for more policy support to help airports and airlines recover and grow.
• Michael Stanton-Geddes (ACI Europe) pointed out that only half of European countries have exceeded their pre-pandemic passenger numbers. He stressed that future growth depends on political will and supportive policies.
• Sectoral taxes and regulatory burdens are seen as major obstacles, especially in regions that are still struggling to recover.
• Olivier Jankovec (ACI Europe Director General) warned that the post-pandemic travel boom is fading, with growth rates returning to normal. He also mentioned that uncertainties in the global economy, including possible changes in US 🇺🇸 policies, could affect demand later in 2025.

Evidence-Based Conclusions

• European airport traffic is recovering, but not evenly. International travel is strong, especially in tourism-driven and emerging markets, but many regions and smaller airports are still behind.
• Policy support is crucial. Without changes to taxes and regulations, underperforming regions may continue to lag.
• The future is uncertain. Economic and political factors, both within Europe and globally, could slow or speed up the recovery.

Limitations

• The data covers only up to May 2025 and may not reflect more recent developments.
• Some regional airports and countries may have unique factors affecting their recovery that are not fully captured in the available data.
• The analysis relies on statistics from ACI Europe and may not include all private or military airport activity.

Comparisons and Patterns

Growth Leaders vs. Laggards

• Growth Leaders: Moldova 🇲🇩, Bosnia & Herzegovina 🇧🇦, Georgia 🇬🇪, Israel 🇮🇱, and Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 are seeing the fastest increases in passenger traffic, driven by strong international demand and, in some cases, new routes and airline partnerships.
• Laggards: Scandinavian countries and France 🇫🇷 are still struggling, mainly due to high taxes, regulatory hurdles, and less demand for regional flights.

Airport Size Matters

• Major airports are seeing steady but slow growth, as they are already close to full capacity and rely heavily on international business and transfer passengers.
• Small airports are bouncing back faster in percentage terms, but they have a long way to go to reach their pre-pandemic levels.

Market Segment Shifts

• Low-cost carriers are no longer growing as quickly as they did right after the pandemic, with some bases even seeing declines.
• Regional jet operations are shrinking, making it harder for smaller airports to maintain a wide range of destinations.

Practical Implications

• Airlines and airports in high-growth regions are benefiting from strong international demand, especially for leisure and VFR travel.
• Underperforming regions face challenges from high taxes, regulatory burdens, and fewer regional flights.
• Passengers may find more options and better prices in high-growth markets, but fewer choices in regions that are still struggling.
• Cargo operators face a mixed picture, with some airports seeing growth in cargo carried on passenger flights, but overall freight volumes are down.

Procedures, Contacts, and Resources

• For the most up-to-date and detailed traffic reports, policy updates, and industry news, visit the ACI Europe official website.
• Individual airport authorities, such as those for Heathrow, Schiphol, Frankfurt, and Zurich, publish monthly traffic statistics and operational updates on their own websites.
• For global and regional air travel demand data, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) provides regular press releases and statistics.

Future Outlook and Pending Developments

• Growth rates are expected to stabilize in the second half of 2025, with tourism-driven markets likely to continue performing well.
• Policy interventions—such as tax relief, infrastructure investment, and support for regional connectivity—will be important topics in upcoming industry forums and government discussions.
• Geopolitical and economic uncertainties—including possible changes in US 🇺🇸 policies and instability in the Middle East—could affect demand for international travel.

Actionable Takeaways

• Travelers should expect more choices and competitive prices in high-growth markets, but may face limited options in regions with slower recovery.
• Airlines should focus on expanding in tourism-driven and emerging markets, while working with policymakers to address barriers in underperforming regions.
• Airport authorities need to invest in infrastructure and work with governments to reduce taxes and regulatory burdens.
• Policymakers should consider targeted support for regions and airports that are still lagging behind, to ensure a more balanced recovery.

Conclusion

May 2025 marked another month of growth for European airport traffic, driven mainly by international travel and strong performance in tourism-oriented and emerging markets. However, the recovery remains uneven, with significant gaps between regions and airport segments. As reported by VisaVerge.com, the future of European air travel will depend on supportive policies, competitive dynamics, and the broader economic and political environment. Stakeholders across the industry will need to work together to address these challenges and ensure that all regions can benefit from the ongoing recovery in international travel.

For those seeking more detailed data or policy updates, the ACI Europe official website remains a key resource for authoritative information on European airport traffic and industry trends.

Learn Today

ACI Europe → Association of European airports providing official air traffic statistics and industry analysis.
International Travel → Flights and passenger movement between different countries, driving growth in airport traffic.
Domestic Travel → Travel within a single country, showing slight declines despite overall airport traffic growth.
VFR Market → Travel segment involving visiting friends and relatives, important for regional airport recovery.
Sectoral Taxes → Taxes levied on specific sectors, such as aviation, impacting airport and airline growth.

This Article in a Nutshell

In May 2025, European airport traffic exceeded pre-pandemic levels by 8%, driven by international travel and tourism markets. Growth is uneven, favoring emerging regions like Moldova, while smaller airports and some European areas lag amid regulatory and economic challenges.
— By VisaVerge.com