Passenger Numbers Rise in Europe by 3.6% in September 2025, Boosting Airport Activity and Travel Options

European Air Travel Sees Continual Growth in September 2025

September 2025 recorded a notable 3.6% year-over-year growth in passenger traffic across European airports, highlighting a steady recovery and expansion in air travel demand. This rise reflects ongoing momentum from summer months and indicates a generally positive trend in how travelers move across the continent.

Comparing Regional Passenger Increases

Stránka non-EU+ regions surpassed expectations by posting an impressive 8.3% increase in passenger volume, more than double Europe’s overall average. Meanwhile, the EU+ market, generally more established, experienced a 2.7% increase. International travel led growth with a 4.3% uplift, outpacing domestic travel which grew by just 1%.

Quarterly Overview

Looking at the third quarter—which includes peak summer travel—the passenger figures grew by 3.9%. Although this growth slightly trails the first and second quarters, the rise solidifies passenger resilience despite economic headwinds.

Country-Specific Growth Highlights

Growth across Europe was varied, with some countries shaving off double-digit growth rates and others experiencing declines. Below is an overview of top performers and those with downward trends:

However, some countries experienced declines, including Estonia (-5.8%), Latvia (-5.1%), Iceland (-4.9%), France (-1.0%), and the UK (-0.3%). Among major markets, Germany led growth with +3.2%, followed by Spain (+2.5%) and Italy (+1.7%).

Airport Segment Analysis

Major and Mega Airports

Passenger volumes at major airports (over 40 million passengers) grew by 2.8% in September. Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen stood out posting a striking 28.1% increase, while Munich and Istanbul Airports also showed solid growth, with 6.7% and 5% rises respectively.

Despite this, Paris-CDG was the only major hub to log a decline, dropping 1.3%. Istanbul Airport maintained the lead in passenger volume, outperforming London Heathrow and Paris-CDG.

Mega and Large Airports

Mega airports (25-40 million passengers) saw a 3% increase, led by Copenhagen (+9.5%), Athens (+5.5%), and Milan Malpensa (+4.7%). Large airports (10-25 million passengers) performed even better with a 4.6% growth, spearheaded by Tel Aviv (+32.2%), Ankara (+18.5%), and İzmir (+18%).

Medium and Small Airports

Medium-sized airports (1-10 million passengers) experienced a 3.6% uplift, propelled largely by airports like Chișinău (+45.5%), Wrocław (+25.1%), and Tivat (+24.2%). Interestingly, small airports (under 1 million passengers) reported the strongest growth at 7.8%, although most still have not fully bounced back to pre-pandemic levels (down 21.7% compared to 2019).

Freight and Aircraft Operations

Beyond passenger figures, freight traffic also enjoyed growth, increasing by 4.3% in September and now standing 17.6% above pre-pandemic levels. Airports like Liège (+14.3%), Madrid (+9.4%), and Cologne (+2.6%) led gains in cargo throughput. Aircraft movements increased by 2.5% year-over-year, showing the broader aviation activity remains on an upswing.

Summary of Rapidly Growing Airports by Segment

Čo to znamená pre transfery a taxislužby

As air passenger traffic rebounds and grows across Europe, the ripple effects for ground transport are clear. Increasing passenger volumes mean more demand for reliable, efficient transfery z letiska a taxi služby to connect travelers to cities and final destinations. Whether traveling for business or leisure, choosing exact and trusted transport options ensures a smooth continuation of the journey after landing.

Platforms like GetTransfer.com stand out by offering passengers crucial transparency and flexibility before booking—a user can check vehicle make, model, ratings, driver credentials, and fares, eliminating guesswork common with traditional booking platforms. This empowers travelers to plan their arrivals and departures with confidence and comfort, picking from a range of vehicles such as private cars, limousines, or larger seaters aligned with need and budget.

Taking Travel Decisions Beyond Reviews

While impressive data and positive trends in European airport traffic provide useful insights, nothing quite compares to personal experience when it comes to choosing ground transport. On GetTransfer, trusted providers with verified licenses offer competitive prices, so travelers can rest assured they are booking a service that balances reliability, convenience, and affordability.

S extensive vehicle options and additional service add-ons at hand, travelers are empowered to select transfers matching their exact needs, avoiding hidden fees and unexpected delays. This level of transparency and catered choice brings a new era to pre-trip planning and post-flight logistics. Book your ride at GetTransfer.com and secure your preferred vehicle today.

Looking Ahead: Implications for Global Tourism and Travel

The continuous recovery and growth of European air travel will likely keep shaping the continent’s tourism and mobility landscape. Though the current uplift is modest, it signals ongoing resilience in international travel, which in turn fosters demand for quality transfer and taxi services connecting airports with cities and tourist destinations. While the impact might not revolutionize global travel overnight, staying updated with these trends helps travelers and service providers adapt seamlessly.

GetTransfer aims to stay ahead of such developments, ensuring that users worldwide have convenient, transparent access to reliable transfers and vehicle options for any destination. Start planning your next adventure and secure your worldwide transfer with GetTransfer.

Záver

European airport passenger traffic experienced a solid 3.6% rise in September 2025 compared with last year, with non-EU+ countries driving higher growth than their EU+ counterparts. Airport segments across major, mega, large, medium, and small categories all registered gains, complemented by increases in freight and aircraft movements. This healthy upward trend reinforces the need for dependable city-to-airport taxi and transfer services, which play an integral role in end-to-end travel experiences.

GetTransfer.com supports these evolving travel demands by offering a user-friendly platform to book exact transfers with verified drivers and transparent pricing across Europe and beyond. From compact city cabs to private limousines and seater vehicles, travelers enjoy flexible options tailored to their itinerary and budget. Whether arriving or departing, the combination of competitive fares, vehicle variety, and ease of booking makes lasting travel connections simpler and more enjoyable.