Bremen Airport was able to record a positive annual result in 2024 with increasing passenger numbers and improved utilization of its aircraft. With 1,89 million passengers, the airport achieved an increase of 4 percent compared to the previous year and thus maintained its position as the tenth largest airport in Germany. Despite this positive development, the industry remains below pre-coronavirus levels, which also represents a challenge for Bremen.
The increased passenger numbers reflect an increased demand for air travel, especially in the area of low-cost connections. With an average seat occupancy rate of 78 percent, Bremen Airport was able to ensure stable efficiency of the flight connections. This is an important factor for the future, says Managing Director Dr. Marc Cezanne: "We need to continue to increase passenger numbers while simultaneously reducing costs."
New hubs and expanded route connections
A significant success for Bremen Airport in 2024 was the connection to another international hub. The new connection to Vienna by Austrian Airlines expands the network of existing hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, Amsterdam, Istanbul and Zurich. This offers passengers from northwest Germany additional transfer options to destinations worldwide.
The connections to Turkey have also been expanded: Turkish Airlines is offering two daily flights to Istanbul for the first time, making it easier to access the world's most extensive route network. In addition, Pegasus Airlines has connected Bremen to Sabiha Gökçen Airport in the Asian part of Istanbul, thus enabling another direct connection to the Turkish metropolis.
Good operational stability and further growth planned
In addition to the positive development in passenger numbers, Bremen Airport was able to demonstrate a high level of operational stability in 2024. "There were virtually no significant disruptions to operations last year," explained Cezanne. This is also one reason why airlines continue to rely on Bremen.
Further route expansions are planned for 2025. The Moldovan airline Fly One will connect Bremen with Chișinău, the capital of the Republic of Moldova. Ryanair is also expanding its offering and increasing seat capacity from Bremen by 16 percent, which indicates continued strong demand for low-cost flight connections.
Challenges: Competition and limited aircraft capacities
Despite the positive development, the economic situation of German airports remains challenging. The high site costs and the limited number of available aircraft in the German market are putting pressure on operators. Cezanne stressed that Bremen Airport must hold its own in the European competition: "There are no 'German' aircraft, we are in direct competition with other locations and we have to make our offer attractive for airlines."
Expansion in the area of low-cost carriers in particular is seen as a key growth driver. Konrad Best, the airport's Chief Commercial Officer, sees this as the greatest realistic opportunity: "Our demand is high, but we have to offer cost-effective solutions in order to remain interesting for airlines."
Bremen Airport is therefore relying on a combination of economic efficiency, new connections and stable operational management in order to assert itself as an important regional airport in the long term.
and 