Passenger numbers at Graz Airport have increased continuously since the beginning of the year, which was further boosted by improved flight capacity utilization and larger aircraft.
So far, around 710.000 passengers have travelled via Graz - an increase of around 15% compared to the previous year, while movements also increased by 8%. Demand for charter flights in particular increased sharply, with an increase of around 31% compared to the same period last year. This reflects the increasing private travel appetite, which now even exceeds the level of 2019, i.e. before the pandemic. Nevertheless, the business travel segment is still behind the 2019 figures, but this is offset by increasing demand in other segments.
Winter flight schedule 2024: Optimized route network for more flexibility
The winter flight schedule from Graz offers increased frequency to important hubs and new destinations for holiday travelers. The high-frequency transfer airports include Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Zurich and Düsseldorf, from which Graz passengers can easily reach up to 190 other destinations.
The particularly popular connection to Frankfurt is served 23 times a week, followed by Munich with 22 connections. City travelers also benefit from the direct connections, for example to Hamburg and Berlin, which are each offered five times a week.
holiday destinations and special flights on offer
The holiday offer also remains attractive: destinations such as Hurghada and Antalya are now available throughout the winter. Gran Canaria and Tenerife can also be flown to from autumn and October respectively and are regularly served by Eurowings. Other destinations such as Paphos and Porto are expanding the repertoire of attractive autumn travel destinations. The airport is thus responding to the high demand and increasing popularity of travel flights to the Mediterranean region and the Canary Islands.
Challenges in the freight sector and optimistic forecast
While passenger numbers are increasing, the cargo sector recorded a decline of around 8% up to the third quarter compared to the record year of 2023, which reached a historic high of around 19.400 tonnes. However, the positive development in October suggests that the figures could stabilize in the fourth quarter to improve the annual cargo balance. Nevertheless, the airport expects a total of around 820.000 passengers by the end of the year, an increase compared to 2023.
Outlook and perspectives
The new range of services and the improvement in flight frequencies indicate an optimistic future for Graz Airport, especially for passengers who value the increased connection to European hubs. With additional winter destinations and a continuous increase in demand, Graz is positioning itself as an increasingly important hub for domestic and international travelers.
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