In 2024, Cologne Bonn Airport once again recorded significant growth in passenger volume. With over 10 million passengers, the double-digit million mark was exceeded for the first time since 2019. This represents another milestone in the airport's recovery after the tough years of the corona pandemic. Particularly noticeable was the high demand for tourist destinations in southern Europe and the increased travel to visit family and friends, with trips to Turkey, Spain and Great Britain in particular being the focus. The most popular destinations included Antalya, Palma de Mallorca, Istanbul and London.
The positive trend in passenger numbers shows that the desire to travel remains unbroken despite the global challenges. Thilo Schmid, CEO of Cologne/Bonn Airport GmbH, expressed his delight at the development: "We are very pleased that traffic continued to develop positively in 2024 and that we were able to welcome more than 10 million passengers to the airport for the first time since the pandemic." This figure is a great success, especially since the aviation industry in Germany is struggling with a number of hurdles, including high government site costs, which make it difficult to compete with airports in other European countries.
Schmid further explained that the airport continues to work closely with its airline partners to continuously develop the flight schedule and add new destinations. The increased number of passengers clearly shows that the desire to travel is still strong. Tourist destinations in the sun, such as the Mediterranean countries, and city breaks were among the main reasons for the increase.
Comparison with the pre-crisis years and challenges
With 10 million passengers in 2024, Cologne Bonn Airport will exceed its passenger numbers from 2022 (8,8 million) and 2023 (9,8 million) by around one million each. However, compared to 2019, when the airport recorded 12 million passengers, there is still a significant gap, which is partly due to the reduced offer in domestic German air traffic. The intra-European flight market has been struggling with fewer flights and rising costs in recent years. Nevertheless, Cologne Bonn remains an important transport hub in the region, even if a full return to pre-crisis levels is still a long way off.
Another factor affecting passenger traffic is the still high government costs. These are imposed on both airports and airlines and make the German market less attractive compared to other European countries. Nevertheless, Cologne Bonn Airport has managed the increase in passenger numbers well, which particularly benefits tourist and international connections.
Freight business remains stable
In addition to the passenger business, the cargo business is another important component of the airport's activities. Despite the generally difficult situation in the global economy, caused by geopolitical crises and uncertainties, Cologne Bonn Airport was able to maintain its position as one of the most important cargo locations in Germany and Europe. In 2024, around 840.000 tons of cargo were handled, which is only slightly below the previous year's level (870.000 tons). Compared to 2019, when the airport recorded 815.000 tons of cargo, the result remains positive and shows that the airport is well positioned even in a difficult global market environment.
The cargo business at Cologne Bonn Airport benefits not only from the airport's geographical location in the heart of Europe, but also from the sophisticated logistics structures that enable the rapid transport of goods. Accessibility for large international air cargo companies and the continuous development of the terminal area contribute significantly to the success of the cargo sector.
Views 2025
Cologne Bonn Airport is forecasting continued positive development in passenger business for 2025. The number of passengers is expected to rise to 10,6 million. This forecast is based on the increased numbers and the positive market development. The airport expects continued strong demand for international destinations and hopes to be able to offer more domestic flights again.
In the cargo business, a slight increase in volume is expected for 2025, with the target volume being around 850.000 tonnes. Cologne Bonn Airport is committed to the continuous development of its infrastructure in order to meet the increasing demands of international air traffic and to continue to exist as an important aviation and logistics location in Europe in the coming years.
Cologne Bonn Airport took an impressive step forward in 2024 after years of uncertainty due to the pandemic, once again exceeding the 10 million mark in passenger traffic. This is proof of passengers' renewed desire to travel and the airport's robust economic foundation. Even though the airport has not quite reached pre-crisis levels, the outlook for the coming years is positive. The cargo sector in particular has demonstrated its stability, and further growth is also expected in passenger traffic.
However, challenges remain, particularly in terms of high costs and increasing competition from airports in other European countries. Nevertheless, Cologne Bonn Airport has developed the right strategies to remain a leading aviation location.
and 