European Airports report weakest July growth in a decade despite 3% traffic rise

Passenger traffic at Europe’s airports grew +3.1% year-on-year in July 2025, according to ACI EUROPE. While volumes were +5% above pre-pandemic levels (July 2019), the result was among the weakest July growth rates in the past decade.

• International traffic drove all gains (+3.7%), while domestic remained flat (+0.7%).
• EU+ airports (EU, UK, EEA & Switzerland) rose +2.8%, with strong growth in Poland (+13.9%), Slovenia (+12.2%), Cyprus (+10.1%), but declines in Latvia (-6.1%) and Estonia (-6%). Major markets underperformed: Spain (+2.7%), Germany (+2.3%), Italy & France (+1.2%), UK (+1.1%).
• Non-EU+ airports climbed +4.7%, with sharp gains in Moldova (+45%), Georgia (+12.1%), Kazakhstan (+11.2%), but losses in Russia (-15.1%) and Israel (-5.6%).

By airport size:

• Major hubs (+2.7%): Istanbul SAW (+14.9%), Munich (+5.9%), Istanbul IST (+4.5%). Heathrow flat (0%) but remained Europe’s busiest.
• Mega airports (+2.7%): Milan MXP (+7.5%), Dublin (+6.9%).
• Large airports (+2.9%): Krakow (+18.9%), Warsaw (+12.5%), Izmir (+11.2%).
• Medium airports (+3.9%): standout Chisinau (+45%), Bournemouth (+31.9%).
• Small airports (+4.0%): huge surges at Kiruna (+166.4%), Karlstad (+147.7%).

Other metrics:

• Freight fell -1.5% (but still +10.4% vs 2019), with Liège (+14.4%) leading gains.
• Aircraft movements rose +2.9% year-on-year.