Portugal's Air Passenger Traffic Increases by 5.9% in June, INE Reports
Passenger traffic at Portuguese airports reached 7.1 million in June, an increase of 5.9% compared to the same month in 2024, according to the latest rapid statistics on air transport from the Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE). The data, released this Thursday, also shows that for the first six months of the year, passenger volume grew by 4.8% to a total of 34.5 million people, indicating sustained momentum in the country's tourism and travel sectors.
The daily average of disembarking passengers in June was 118,800, a figure 5.2% higher than the 113,000 recorded in June 2024. The number of commercial aircraft landings at national airports also rose by 4.9%, totaling 24,500 flights. This increase in activity highlights the growing demand for travel to and from Portugal, a trend closely watched by the hospitality and real estate industries.
International traffic continues to be the dominant component of passenger movement, accounting for 82% of all disembarked passengers in June, or 2.9 million people. The majority of these international arrivals (68.1%) originated from within the European continent, which saw a year-on-year growth of 4.6%. The American continent was the second-largest source market, representing 9.7% of arrivals and showing a strong growth of 8.6% compared to the previous year.
Regarding departures, international destinations accounted for 81.9% of traffic, with 2.9 million passengers, a 7.2% increase. European countries were the primary destination, making up 68.2% of the total and growing by 6.3%. The American continent was also the second most popular destination for departing passengers, with a 9.4% share and a significant 12.3% increase in traffic.
In the first half of the year, the United Kingdom maintained its position as the principal country of origin and destination. Passenger numbers from the UK increased by 2.9% on arrival and 2.5% on departure. In contrast, France, the second most important market, experienced a slight decrease of 0.8% in both arrivals and departures. Spain, Germany, and Italy followed as the next most significant markets.
Lisbon Airport handled 50% of all passenger traffic in the first semester, with 17.2 million passengers, a 3% increase over the same period in 2024. Porto Airport was responsible for 22.9% of the total, with 7.9 million passengers, marking a 5.5% growth. Faro Airport, crucial for the Algarve region, saw the most substantial growth among the main airports, with a 7% increase to 4.6 million passengers, representing 13.4% of the national total. The INE also noted a 4% increase in cargo and mail movement, which reached 21,100 tonnes in June.
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