Despite ongoing economic uncertainty, Bavaria's three international airports recorded significant growth in both flight movements and passenger numbers in the first quarter of the year. According to the State Statistical Office in Fürth, a total of 2025 takeoffs and landings were recorded at Munich, Memmingen, and Nuremberg airports from the beginning of January to the end of March 79.222. This corresponds to a 3,2 percent increase in passenger numbers to a total of 9,5 million passengers.
The distribution of traffic volumes between the three locations remained largely constant. Munich Airport maintained its position as Bavaria's largest airport with 66.908 flight movements, an increase of 1,3 percent. The number of passengers handled in Munich rose by 1,8 percent to 8,1 million.
Nuremberg and Memmingen airports recorded significantly lower growth rates, but with higher percentage growth rates. Nuremberg recorded 6.630 takeoffs and landings in the first quarter, while Memmingen recorded 5.684 flight movements.
Memmingen overtakes Nuremberg in passenger numbers
However, there was a notable shift in passenger numbers. Allgäu Airport in Memmingen, with 719.000 passengers handled, an impressive increase of 16,1 percent, surpassed Nuremberg Airport, which handled 679.000 passengers, an increase of 8,2 percent compared to the same quarter last year. This development indicates a shift in demand for air traffic within Bavaria.
As usual, the State Statistical Office did not comment on the exact causes of this development. However, the general increase in passenger numbers is consistent with the assessments of tourism experts, who assume that, following the previous boom in regional travel destinations caused by the coronavirus pandemic, holidaymakers are now increasingly booking long-distance trips again. A clear indication of this is the above-average growth rates at Nuremberg and Memmingen airports, which traditionally handle a larger proportion of holiday flights. This could indicate that Bavarians' desire to travel remains unbroken and, despite economic challenges, is increasingly turning to long-distance air travel. The different growth rates at the three airports could also be due to changes in route offerings and the attractiveness of the respective destinations.
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