76 million airline passengers in 2024, 6 percent fewer than in 2019

© ANP / Rob Engelaar
A total of 76.2 million air passengers travelled to and from the Netherlands’ five main airports in 2024. That was almost 7 percent more than in 2023, but still 6 percent fewer than in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic. There were 537 thousand cargo flights, up by more than 6 percent compared to 2023. Air freight transport was up by nearly 8 percent, year on year, to 1.5 million tonnes. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this on the basis of new figures.

In 2024, as in most years, the third quarter saw the most flights and the highest passenger numbers. This is the period that includes the school holidays and holidays in the construction sector.

August was the busiest month of the whole year, with 49.2 thousand flights and 7.4 million passengers. Monday 29 July and Monday 5 August were the busiest days, with 252 thousand passengers each. The quietest day was Tuesday 16 January, with 131 thousand passengers arriving and departing.

Increase in air traffic at Schiphol

The increase in the number of flights and passengers carried in 2024 came primarily from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Almost 474 thousand flights were operated to and from Schiphol, 7.2 percent more than in 2023. There were 5.5 percent more flights to and from Maastricht Aachen Airport in 2024, but that increase reflects the fact that the airport was closed for two months in 2023 (May and June) while maintenance work was carried out to the runway.

The number of passengers transported to and from Schiphol rose by nearly 8 percent, to 66.8 million passengers. Nearly 18 thousand fewer passengers passed through Eindhoven Airport than in 2023, but it remains the Netherlands’ second airport with 6.9 million passengers transported in 2024.

Almost three-quarters of passengers travelled within Europe

Of the 76.2 million air passengers who flew to and from the Netherlands in 2023, 56.6 million were travelling within Europe. That was 74.2 percent of all passengers. In 2023, 73.4 percent of all airline passengers were travelling to or from somewhere in Europe.

Spain was the most popular destination once again

In 2024, Spain was once again the most popular country to fly to or from, at 10 million air passengers. Barcelona's El Prat airport saw the highest number, with 1.8 million travellers, followed by Malaga's Pablo Ruiz Picasso airport with 1.48 million. After Spain, 9.2 million passengers travelled to or from the United Kingdom, of which 1.46 million used London Heathrow airport. Six million airline passengers travelled between the United States and an airport in the Netherlands.

Asia saw the highest volume of air freight

Of the 1.52 million tonnes of air freight handled in the Netherlands in 2024, 1.50 million tonnes passed through Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. That was up by 8.2 percent compared with 2023. The remaining 29 thousand tonnes of air cargo was handled at Maastricht Aachen Airport, the other airport in the Netherlands that handles air freight. That was 8.8 percent less than in 2023.

Most air freight came from or went to Asia: a total of 829 thousand tonnes, up by 9.4 percent from 2023. Asia was followed by Central and North America, at 296 thousand tonnes of air freight.

Sources