Graz Airport is currently experiencing an upswing. With around 500,000 passengers by mid-2024, the airport has achieved double-digit growth of around 20 percent compared to the previous year.

This figure not only reflects the increased interest in departures from Graz, but also the successful optimization of passenger capacity. The increase in passenger numbers is mainly due to the improved capacity utilization of flights, while the total number of flight movements increased by almost 10%.

Wolfgang Grimus, Managing Director of Graz Airport, expressed optimism about the positive development: “The current year and the first half of summer travel have developed very positively in terms of passenger traffic. We expect that holiday flights will also be well booked until the end of the season. Although the growth curve is slowly leveling off, we are expecting a total of over 800,000 passengers this year.” This forecast not only shows the airport’s success in attracting new passengers, but also the continued high level of interest in the destinations on offer.

Max Schlögl, chairman of the WK travel agency group and managing director of Gruber Reisen, confirms this positive trend: “The bookings for 2024 have so far more than met our expectations. The good advance bookings suggest that this trend will continue until the end of the season.” This indicates that Graz Airport will benefit from stable passenger volumes not only in the high season, but also in the coming months.

Segment analysis and growth in holiday air traffic

The strong growth in holiday air traffic is particularly striking. Compared to 2023, the airport recorded an increase in passenger numbers of around 40%. The most popular destinations include Antalya, Hurghada, Palma de Mallorca, Heraklion, Rhodes and Kos. Lesser-known destinations such as Kefalonia, Paros, Skiathos and Brac are also enjoying growing popularity. This increase shows that Graz Airport is an attractive departure airport not only for business travelers, but increasingly also for holidaymakers.

In contrast, scheduled air traffic only increased by about 15%. This sector includes both business travelers and holidaymakers who prefer direct flights to Berlin and Hamburg. The connections to major transfer airports such as Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna and Zurich are still important, as they often serve as a starting point for long-distance international travel.

Summer and winter flight schedules

For the summer, there are still numerous flight options available until the end of October to attractive holiday destinations such as Antalya, Brac, Calvi, Kefalonia, Corfu, Larnaca and Rhodes. In addition, Gruber Reisen is offering a series of special flights in the autumn, including destinations such as Funchal on Madeira and Paphos on Cyprus. Lisbon and Porto are also on the program. These special offers contribute to a further increase in passenger numbers and the attractiveness of Graz Airport.

The popular destinations Antalya and Hurghada will continue to be offered for the winter. Tenerife will be included in the flight schedule from October 4th, followed by Gran Canaria at the end of October. The direct connections to important hubs and metropolises such as Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Zurich, Berlin, Düsseldorf and Hamburg ensure passengers access to a global network of travel destinations.