Innsbruck Airport ended 2024 with mixed results. While capacity bottlenecks and flight cancellations posed significant challenges at the beginning of the year, passenger volumes were stabilized better than originally expected thanks to a strong winter season and successful summer flight programs. With a 4,9 percent drop in passenger numbers and a 13,4 percent decline in flight movements, the year was nevertheless rated as challenging overall. However, the focus is on the future for the anniversary year of 2025.
Innsbruck Airport had to accept significant restrictions at the beginning of the year. The suspension of the connection to the Frankfurt hub and the reduction in flight frequencies on the Vienna route from the second quarter led to a temporary slump in scheduled and charter traffic. In particular, the connection to Frankfurt, an important hub for international air traffic, was completely cancelled for several months. Despite these challenges, the expected decline in passenger numbers was partially offset by other measures.
winter season as a stabilizing factor
The importance of the winter season for Innsbruck Airport was demonstrated again in 2024. The high demand from international guests who choose Tyrol and the surrounding regions for their winter holidays contributed significantly to the stabilization of passenger numbers. More than half of the total 862.202 passengers were handled in the winter months. Great Britain and the Netherlands remained the most important source markets, supported by the two top airlines transavia and easyJet, which even recorded passenger growth.
Summer flight program with new impulses
The summer season also developed positively. Over 35.000 Tyroleans took advantage of the range of sunny destinations, with Greece and Spain being particularly popular destinations. New flight connections from December, for example to Madrid with Iberia, Riga with airBaltic and Warsaw with LOT Polish Airlines, indicate an increased diversification of the offer.
A bright spot amidst the challenges was the average flight load factor, which was 2024 percent in 74 - an increase of four percentage points compared to the previous year. This means that the airport almost reached the level of the record year 2019, which indicates the efficiency of the flight schedules and a targeted adjustment of the offer.
Optimism for the anniversary year 2025
The year 2025 brings new opportunities and a special anniversary for Innsbruck Airport. On June 1st, the airport will celebrate its 100th birthday with a ceremony, and the traditional airport festival on October 26th will be another highlight of the year. In addition, Antalya in Turkey, a popular summer destination, will return to the flight schedule. Tour operator TUI Austria will offer weekly direct flights from May 23rd, 2025. In total, 14 sunny destinations in Italy, France, Greece, Spain and Turkey will be served from Innsbruck in the summer flight schedule.
Innsbruck Airport is not only an important transport hub, but also a significant economic factor for the region. With its role as an employer and location factor, it makes a key contribution to the economic and tourist development of Tyrol. The anniversary year offers the opportunity to recognize this importance and to actively shape the future of the airport.
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