Northern Germany's biggest air hub has published new figures for 2024. With approximately 14.83 million passengers, numbers significantly exceeded initial forecasts. Compared to the previous year, in which Hamburg Airport welcomed 13.6 million passengers, 2024 saw a 9% increase. The recovery rate compared to the pre-pandemic year 2019 reached 86 percent, clearly indicating the substantial rebound of air travel in Hamburg. For 2025, the airport aims to maintain this high level.
“2024 was a great year for Hamburg Airport. People in northern Germany are traveling again – and how! Our expectations were exceeded,” said Christian Kunsch, co-CEO of Hamburg Airport. “We saw particularly strong demand for leisure travel within Europe, with recovery rates temporarily exceeding 100 percent compared to 2019. Business travel, on the other hand, has stabilized at around 20 percent of passenger volume – this will be the new normal.” Berit Schmitz, co-CEO added, “We successfully ensured smooth operations even on the busiest days this year. This was achieved through the dedication of the entire airport team and our partners. At the same time, we enhanced comfort and service, expanded our dining and shopping offerings, and modernized the travel market.”
Strong Demand and Record-Breaking Flight Occupancy
With approximately 127,000 take-offs and landings, the total number of flight movements in 2024 increased by 5.5 percent compared to the previous year (2023: 120,300; 2019: around 155,200). The rise in passenger numbers to 14.83 million was driven primarily by the strong demand for leisure travel. Additionally, the trend toward long-haul destinations gained traction in both the leisure and business segments. Notably, the average flight occupancy reached a record 81 percent, the highest in the airport’s history (2019: 77.8 percent). The average number of passengers per flight in scheduled and charter services rose to 137, about 10 more than in 2019.
“High occupancy means more passengers moving through the terminal at once,” explained Christian Kunsch. He highlighted a key efficiency improvement: “We simplified and sped up baggage check-in at self-service kiosks by 50 percent. With new hand scanners, it takes less than 50 seconds for a bag to be labeled and ready for travel.” Use of the self-service baggage drop increased by 30 percent compared to the previous year, and now one in three bags is checked in automatically.
Stress Test Passed During Autumn Holidays
The autumn holidays of 2024 marked the highest demand since the start of the pandemic, with more than 843,000 passengers. On October 18, the airport surpassed 60,000 passengers in a single day. At peak times, more than 3,000 travelers per hour passed through security, with 99 percent completing the process in under 20 minutes. Despite the crowded terminals, operations remained smooth.
Diverse Airline Offering
Hamburg Airport boasts a broad airline mix. Around 55 carriers connect the city to approximately 125 direct destinations. In summer 2024, about 120 destinations were served, with additional seasonal routes in winter. A major highlight was the new direct route to Doha with Qatar Airways, providing access to around 170 destinations worldwide. This expanded offering was well received by passengers.
Outlook for 2025
Planning for the summer 2025 schedule is already underway. Hamburg Airport expects a similarly broad range of airlines and stable passenger and flight movement levels. “We anticipate that supply and demand will remain at the current level,” said Christian Kunsch. “Our focus is on adapting our infrastructure to manage peak times effectively.”
The airport will continue to invest in safety, comfort, and service. Planned investments include €5 million for security system upgrades and baggage handling improvements. New smart gates will enhance passenger flow at security checks. Additional renovations, including modernized restrooms and the gradual replacement of 26 elevators, are also in progress.
via Hamburg Airport