# European airport passenger traffic growth

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/european-airport-passenger-traffic-growth
> Updated: 2026-08-13T10:27:32.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 3.

Major European airports, specifically Dublin, London Stansted, and Brussels, have reported record-breaking passenger volumes driven by summer holiday demand and international events.

Dublin Airport experienced its busiest month since opening in 1940, welcoming 3,839,635 passengers in July. This growth, a 2.3% increase from the previous year, marked the airport’s 16th consecutive month of growth. The surge was attributed to factors such as school holidays, the closing stages of the FIFA World Cup, and Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union. The airport recorded its highest single-day traffic on July 12, with 133,472 passengers.

London Stansted Airport also achieved a historic milestone, processing 3.1 million passengers in July, a 6.3% increase over the previous year. The airport saw more than 100,000 daily passengers on 18 separate days, with top destinations including Spain, Italy, and Turkey. Managing Director Gareth Powell noted that changing travel habits, including more frequent shorter breaks, and enhanced long-haul connectivity have contributed to these figures.

Brussels Airport also reported significant growth, processing 2,577,710 travelers in July, marking its busiest July since 2019. This 2.8% increase from the previous year was driven by summer holidays and major events such as the Tomorrowland festival and the Formula 1 weekend at Spa-Francorchamps. Additionally, the airline Transavia contributed to the surge by stationing a fourth aircraft at the airport to expand Mediterranean routes.

In Ireland, Shannon Airport also reported growth, expecting over 65,000 passengers during the August Bank Holiday weekend, representing a 7% increase compared to the same period the previous year.

## Claims

- Dublin Airport recorded its busiest month ever in July with 3,839,635 passengers. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Dublin Airport saw a 2.3% increase in passengers in July compared to the same month last year. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The airport experienced its 16th consecutive month of passenger growth. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The busiest day at Dublin Airport in July was Sunday, 12 July, with 133,472 passengers. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Nearly 22 million passengers traveled through Dublin Airport between January and July. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- London Stansted Airport recorded 3.1 million passengers in July, its busiest month in history. (single source)
- Stansted's July passenger numbers were up 6.3% compared to July of the previous year. (single source)
- The rolling annual passenger total for London Stansted is 30.5 million. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-13: European airports Stansted and Brussels report high July passenger numbers

London Stansted and Brussels Airport both reported significant passenger increases in July, with Stansted hitting a record 3.1 million travelers and Brussels seeing its busiest July since 2019.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-airports-stansted-and-brussels-report-high-july-passenger-numbers

### 2026-08-10: Dublin and London Stansted airports report record July passenger numbers

Dublin Airport and London Stansted Airport both reported record-breaking passenger numbers in July, fueled by summer holiday travel and increased international connectivity.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dublin-and-london-stansted-airports-report-record-july-passenger-numbers

### 2026-07-28: Irish airports expect over 590,000 passengers this August Bank Holiday

Dublin Airport expects >527,000 passengers and Shannon Airport >65,000 during the August Bank Holiday, totaling over 590,000 travelers.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/irish-airports-expect-over-590000-passengers-this-august-bank-holiday

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Cite as: European airport passenger traffic growth. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/european-airport-passenger-traffic-growth