Air travel in the EU surpasses one billion passengers
Eurostat data reveals a strong increase in passenger numbers across the European Union in 2024, marking the second time air travel figures have exceeded one billion
Air travel across the European Union saw a significant surge in 2024, with the number of passengers rising by 8.3% to reach 1.1 billion, according to data released by Eurostat. This achievement marks the second time the bloc has crossed the one billion passenger threshold. The strongest growth was observed in Hungary, where air travel jumped by 19.2%, followed by the Czech Republic at 18.9% and Estonia at 17.8%. In contrast, countries like Sweden (1.3%), Bulgaria (3.8%), France, and Ireland (both at 4.6%) experienced more modest increases, while Belgium exceeded the average with a 7.5% rise.
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport ranked as the busiest in the EU for 2024, handling 70.3 million travelers. Amsterdam Schiphol came second with 66.8 million passengers, while Madrid Barajas rounded out the top three with 66.1 million. Brussels Airport was listed as the 20th busiest, serving 23.6 million passengers over the year.
Cargo transport by air also registered positive growth, increasing by 8.7% to reach a total of 14.3 million tons. This boost was primarily driven by shipments outside the EU, as domestic cargo volumes declined. Liege Airport continued to strengthen its position as the EU’s fifth largest cargo hub, aided by strong trade relations with China, while Frankfurt maintained its standing as the union’s leading air cargo center.
