Dutch Airports Handle 76 Million Passengers in 2024, Still Below Pre-Pandemic Levels

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Dutch airports collectively handled 76.2 million airline passengers in 2024, reflecting a 7 percent increase from the previous year.

However, passenger volumes remain 6 percent lower than in 2019, the last full year before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global air travel.

Schiphol Leads Passenger Growth

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, the Netherlands’ largest airport, recorded nearly 474,000 flights in 2024, marking a 7.2 percent increase from 2023. The number of passengers passing through Schiphol rose by almost 8 percent to 66.8 million. Despite this growth, the airport has yet to fully recover to pre-pandemic levels.

Trends Across Dutch Airports

Eindhoven Airport, the country’s second-largest, experienced a slight decline in passenger numbers, recording 6.9 million travelers—about 18,000 fewer than in 2023.

Meanwhile, Rotterdam The Hague Airport and Maastricht Aachen Airport saw increases in traffic. Maastricht, in particular, benefitted from its reopening following a temporary closure in 2023 due to runway maintenance.

Spain and the UK Remain Popular Destinations

Spain remained the most visited destination from Dutch airports in 2024, with 10 million passengers flying between the two countries. Barcelona’s El Prat Airport was the busiest single route, with 1.8 million passengers.

The United Kingdom followed closely, recording 9.2 million travelers, with London Heathrow accounting for 1.46 million of them. The United States also remained a key market, with 6 million passengers traveling between the two countries.

Slow but Steady Recovery

While Dutch air travel has rebounded significantly since the pandemic, the slower return to 2019 levels suggests a continued shift in travel patterns.

Factors such as economic conditions, changing work habits, and ongoing adjustments in airline operations may be influencing the recovery trajectory.

As the aviation industry adapts to post-pandemic trends, Dutch airports remain optimistic about sustained growth in the coming years.