European airports reach record passenger numbers in first half of the year
Passenger volume across European airports exceeded 1.073 billion in the first six months of 2025, marking the busiest first half on record according to ACI Europe data.
European airports registered a record-breaking number of passengers in the first half of 2025, with over 1.073 billion travelers passing through terminals. This marks a 4.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year, making it the busiest first half on record, according to data released by industry group ACI Europe. The surge was primarily driven by international travel, which rose by 5.7 percent.
When compared to the first half of 2019, the last pre-pandemic year, passenger numbers were 5.1 percent higher, underscoring both a strong recovery and new growth in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis. Notably, airports in Slovakia saw the most significant increase at 19.2 percent, followed by Poland at 14.9 percent and Hungary at 14.2 percent. These countries benefited from both increased tourism and improved international connections.
In response to the continued growth, Brussels Airport has announced plans to invest 500 million euros in expansion and modernization. During the first half of 2025, Brussels Airport served 11.28 million passengers, a 4 percent increase over last year, and the highest first-half figure since 2019. According to ACI Europe, these results signal that European airports are on a robust path of post-pandemic recovery.
