MR Štefánik Airport in the Slovak capital Bratislava reached a remarkable historic milestone in May 2025. With 172.464 passengers handled on arrivals and departures, the airport recorded its best operating result for a May month in 74 years, i.e., since 1951. This record result represents an increase of 34 percent compared to May 2024 and exceeded the previous May record from 2008 by almost XNUMX travelers. Dušan Novota, General Director and Chairman of the Management Board of MR Štefánik Airport, praised this achievement as the result of a strategic expansion of the route network and increased flight frequencies.
Bratislava Airport, named after the Slovak national hero Milan Rastislav Štefánik, is Slovakia's most important international air traffic hub. Its history as an airport stretches back to the middle of the last century. The now announced passenger count of 2025 travelers for May 172.464 not only represents an impressive increase of 34 percent compared to May of the previous year, but also breaks a record that had stood for 17 years, namely since May 2008, when 171.466 passengers were handled. The almost 2025 additional passengers in May 74 thus mark the highest number the airport has ever recorded in a May in its 1951-year history since it began operations in XNUMX.
This success is a clear sign of the airport's positive development and its growing importance in Central Europe. Director General Dušan Novota emphasized that this record is a "great success thanks to new routes and increased flight frequencies." The opening of new flight connections and the increase in frequency of existing routes are crucial factors for an airport's growth, as they increase its attractiveness for travelers and improve the region's connectivity.
Strategic route expansion: The driving force behind growth
The remarkable increase in passengers in May is the direct result of a strategic expansion of flight offerings from Bratislava. The airport has purposefully expanded its route network and increased frequencies on existing routes to better meet travelers' needs. The main destinations served from Bratislava in May reflect the preferences of both leisure and business travelers. London Stansted and Luton airports topped the list of most popular destinations, underscoring the strong demand for connections to the British capital. Other particularly popular destinations were Hurghada in Egypt, Alghero in Sardinia, Milan in Italy, and Malta.
Dušan Novota detailed the reasons for the growth:
- New direct flights: The introduction of new direct flights, particularly to Gdansk in Poland, Bari in Italy, and Milan-Malpensa with low-cost carrier Ryanair, has significantly expanded the range of services. Ryanair, known for its extensive route network from smaller airports, plays a key role in connecting Bratislava to other European cities.
- Regular connections: The launch of regular flights to Istanbul, Turkey, and Antalya, also in Turkey, with Pegasus Airlines, as well as to Hurghada with Air Cairo, has opened up new markets and expanded the choice for leisure travelers. Istanbul often also serves as an important hub for onward flights to other regions.
- Higher flight frequencies: A general increase in frequency on existing scheduled flights, including a daily connection to Alghero in Sardinia, offers travelers more flexibility in planning their journeys.
- Charter flights from travel agencies: The increase in charter flights organized by travel agencies, particularly to popular holiday destinations, also contributes significantly to passenger traffic by offering package deals for holidaymakers.
This combination of new destinations, the consolidation of existing routes and the expansion of charter services has created a wider range of travel options and increased the attractiveness of Bratislava Airport as a departure point.
Continuous growth so far this year: passenger numbers and flight movements
The record month of May is not an isolated incident, but rather fits into the continuous growth of MR Štefánik Airport since the beginning of the year. In the first five months of 2025, from the beginning of January to the end of May, Bratislava Airport handled nearly 600.000 passengers. To be precise, the total was 593.712, representing a remarkable increase of 22 percent compared to the same period last year. These figures demonstrate that the upward trend is not limited to seasonal effects, but represents a sustainable development.
The number of flight movements, i.e., the sum of takeoffs and landings, also shows a positive trend. In May, a total of 2.453 takeoffs and landings were carried out, representing an increase of 10 percent compared to May 2024. From the beginning of the year to the end of May, the total number of flights amounted to 9.475, representing an increase of three percent compared to the same period last year. These figures demonstrate that the airport is not only handling more passengers, but is also achieving higher capacity utilization and efficiency in flight operations. An increase in flight movements is often an indicator of lively operational activity and increased utilization of airport capacity.
Strong upswing in the air freight sector: Another pillar of success
In addition to the impressive growth in passenger traffic, Bratislava Airport also continues to record excellent growth figures in the air cargo sector. This underscores the airport's importance not only as a passenger but also as a freight transport hub for the region.
In the first five months of 2025, the airport handled a total of 7.678 tons of cargo. This represents a significant increase of 66 percent compared to the first five months of 2024. In May of this year alone, cargo traffic increased by 50 percent: While 1.051 tons of cargo were handled in May of last year, the figure for this May was 1.581 tons. These figures demonstrate dynamic development in the cargo sector, often due to improved logistics infrastructure, stronger connections to international cargo networks, and rising industrial demand in the region.
Dušan Novota emphasized the positive development in this sector as well. The growth of air cargo is of great importance for airports, as it opens up additional revenue streams and contributes to the diversification of the economic base. It also reflects the strength of the local and regional economy, which relies on fast and efficient transport routes for its goods. Bratislava Airport is thus establishing itself not only as an attractive starting point for travelers, but also as an important logistics hub in the heart of Europe.
MR Štefánik Airport in the context of European aviation
MR Štefánik Airport, often known as Bratislava Airport, plays an important role in the European air transport network, particularly due to its proximity to Vienna. Although Vienna Schwechat Airport (VIE) is the dominant airport in the region, Bratislava often positions itself as a more cost-effective alternative, particularly popular with low-cost airlines and budget-conscious travelers. This strategic positioning allows the airport to serve niche markets and offer an attractive option for travelers from Slovakia and neighboring regions.
Bratislava Airport's current growth is an example of how regional airports can succeed through targeted strategies, such as expanding route networks with low-cost airlines and strengthening the cargo business. Investing in new routes and increasing frequencies is crucial to compete in the densely congested European airspace. The historic May 2025 result underscores the successful implementation of this strategy and demonstrates the airport's potential for further growth in the coming years. The continuous improvement in passenger numbers, aircraft movements, and cargo volumes indicates that Bratislava Airport is on track to further strengthen its position as an important regional air traffic center.
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