Athens International Airport (AIA) recorded a significant 7.6% increase in passenger traffic in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to data released today by the European airport trade association ACI Europe. Across the network of European airports, passenger traffic rose by 4.5% in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2024.
Although passenger traffic in Europe remains on an upward trajectory, ACI Europe Director General Olivier Jankovec warned the industry that “growth is no longer a given.”
“The positive performance of passenger traffic since the start of the year reflects the continued and strong resilience of demand in the face of significant supply pressures, operational disruptions, rising geopolitical and geoeconomic tensions, and new macroeconomic uncertainties. All this entails new competitive pressures and risks for airport traffic, with a much more volatile and unpredictable market dynamic, where growth can no longer be taken for granted,” noted Olivier Jankovec, while expressing cautious optimism for the rest of the year. “The summer season is performing well so far – let’s see how the next few months unfold,” he added.
International Traffic Driving Growth
The increase in passenger numbers at European airports was entirely driven by international traffic, which rose by 5.7%, while domestic traffic remained essentially flat (+0.2%). Overall, passenger volumes in H1 2025 were 5.1% above pre-pandemic levels (H1 2019).
Significant Differences Across European Airports
Performance varied across European markets. Airports in Italy recorded the largest increase in passenger traffic at +5.7%, followed by those in Spain (+4.5%).
In contrast, airports in France (+3.6%), the United Kingdom and Germany (both +2.3%) posted below-average growth.
Heathrow remained Europe’s busiest airport, handling 39.9 million passengers in H1 2025, with a marginal increase of +0.2% year-on-year. It was followed by Istanbul Airport (39.1 million), Paris Charles de Gaulle (34.6 million), Amsterdam Schiphol (32.7 million) and Madrid-Barajas (32.6 million).
Positive Momentum for Small Airports
Small airports handling fewer than one million passengers also saw positive momentum, with traffic up by 5.1%. However, they remain the only segment yet to recover pre-pandemic passenger levels, still 32.9% below H1 2019 figures.
AIA, Syros and Nea Anchialos Among the Top Performers
International travel remains the main driver of recovery for European airports – including Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”, which saw a 7.6% increase in passenger volumes in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2024. Passenger traffic at AIA in June 2025 was also up by 4.6% compared to June 2024.
Meanwhile, the island airport of Syros posted an impressive 112.8% increase in passenger traffic in June 2025 compared to the same month last year, while Nea Anchialos Airport in Volos recorded an equally striking +51.1%.
