Portugal passenger traffic trends

In May 2026 Portuguese airports handled a historic 7.1 million passengers, a 2.9 % increase over the same month a year earlier, with international traffic making up almost 84 % of arrivals and Lisbon Airport alone accounting for half of all passengers.

A later report in late July highlighted other segments of Portugal’s transport system. Beach‑bus services to the Arrábida coast recorded a modest 0.6 % rise in June 2024 ridership, while pre‑purchased and on‑board ticket sales jumped around 38‑39 % year‑on‑year. Conversely, passenger numbers on Atlânticoline ferries serving the Azores fell overall, with most islands seeing declines of 6‑9 % compared with June 2025, though a few smaller islands posted modest increases. The data illustrate that while air travel continues to reach new highs, domestic and regional passenger volumes are experiencing mixed performance, with slight growth in some bus services but a downturn in inter‑island ferry use.