Munich Airport has drawn up an impressive balance sheet at the end of the Bavarian summer holidays. With 6,2 million passengers in the past six weeks, Bavaria's largest airport recorded an increase of ten percent compared to the previous year.
September 1, 2024 was particularly outstanding, when 143.000 passengers used Munich Airport on a single day - a new peak day for the airport. This positive development is also reflected in the aircraft utilization, which reached a record high of 86 percent during the summer holidays. This indicates strong demand for air travel.
Traffic figures and flight movements
During the 2024 summer holidays, Munich Airport carried out a total of 46.000 take-offs and landings, an increase of 7,6 percent compared to the previous year. This increase underlines the airport's growing popularity as a transport hub. It is particularly noteworthy that passenger numbers are now 91 percent of the record year of 2019. In international traffic, the airport even recorded a 14 percent increase in flights to North America compared to 2019. The number of passengers to Mediterranean countries has also reached pre-crisis levels, indicating a strong recovery in summer travel.
It is worth mentioning that in Terminal 2, which is used by Lufthansa and its partner airlines, the number of passengers exceeded the pre-crisis level for the first time on 19 days during the holidays. This shows that the airport has made progress not only in the total number but also in the quality of services.
challenges and solutions
Despite the positive results, there were challenges during the holiday season. Thunderstorms and restrictions in European airspace led to delays and longer waiting times on certain days. However, the rapid training of new employees and the progressive digitalization of services ensured stable handling.
Digitalization plays a key role in improving airport processes. One in three passengers used the baggage check-in machines in the terminals to drop off their luggage themselves, which accelerated the check-in process. Automated passport control and the increased use of modern CT scanners at security checks also contributed to more efficient check-in. These developments have helped to maintain regular operations despite the current spatial restrictions caused by the modernization work at the security checks. Most of the work on the central security check in Terminal 2 is scheduled to be completed this year, which promises additional improvements in the quality of check-in.
Munich Airport has concluded the 2024 summer holidays with impressive records and positive developments. The high number of passengers, the improved utilization of the aircraft and the progress in digitalization demonstrate the airport's successful course. Despite the challenges, the airport was able to impress with efficient processes and modern technology. The planned modernizations and the advancing digitalization promise continued positive development for the future.
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