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Central European airport passenger growth

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2026-10-24 10:57 UTC → 2026-10-26 14:22 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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.~~ 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.

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