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4 clusters · 10 sources · 13 days · First seen · Last updated

Central European airport passenger growth

Overview

Airports in Central Europe are experiencing significant increases in passenger and cargo volumes. Bratislava Airport reported a 99 percent surge in passengers from January to September compared to the previous year, handling nearly 3.7 million travelers and surpassing its 2025 annual record. This growth is supported by airline expansions, particularly from Ryanair, which is expanding its base and increasing its winter schedule in Bratislava.

In contrast, Vienna Schwechat Airport has seen a decline, which a board member attributed to Austria’s aviation tax, describing it as a “shot in the foot” that drives business to Slovakia. While Austria levies taxes of 12 to 30 euros per passenger, Slovakia does not impose such a fee. This competitive difference has contributed to shifts in airline operations, including Wizz Air leaving Schwechat and Ryanair moving more aircraft to Bratislava.

By late September, Bratislava Airport reached a historical milestone, surpassing 4 million passengers for the first time in its 75-year history. Alongside this, cargo traffic at Bratislava grew by 17 percent and aircraft movements rose by 43 percent.

Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport has also reported record activity. The airport experienced its strongest summer ever, with over 6.2 million passengers traveling during the three summer months. This included more than 2 million passengers in July and August alone, with September traffic reaching 1,955,581 passengers. This growth was driven by a diversification strategy that added 24 new routes, including increased transatlantic and Asian connectivity to destinations such as Philadelphia, Toronto, China, and South Korea. Additionally, June saw the airport’s highest monthly cargo volume ever recorded at 42,401 tons, representing a 21.2 percent increase over the previous year.

Entities

American Airlines · Air Canada · Bratislava Airport · Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport · Wizz Air

Timeline

  1. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Budapest Airport hits record passenger numbers in September

    Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport reached a new milestone with nearly two million passengers in September, following a summer season that saw over 6.2 million travelers.

  2. [BUSINESS] 3 sources
    Budapest Airport reports record passenger traffic

    Budapest Airport recorded record-breaking summer passenger numbers, exceeding 6.2 million travelers in three months, driven by route diversification and increased connectivity to North America and Asia.

  3. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Budapest and Bratislava airports report record passenger traffic

    Budapest and Bratislava airports are hitting record highs, with Budapest reporting its strongest summer ever and Bratislava surpassing 4 million annual passengers for the first time.

  4. [BUSINESS] 3 sources
    Bratislava Airport sees 99% passenger surge as Vienna Schwechat declines

    Bratislava Airport passenger numbers have surged by 99 percent, outperforming Vienna Schwechat as airlines like Ryanair expand in Slovakia, partly due to Austria's aviation tax driving traffic across the border

Sources

autoviny.sk · europa.pravda.sk · felvidek.ma · hirklikk.hu · kontroll.hu · mfor.hu · novekedes.hu · piacesprofit.hu · sikerado.hu · startitup.sk

This summary has been updated 2 times: see revision history