Vacation - Airports in NRW expect a wave of travel during the summer vacations
After the start of the summer holidays in the most populous federal state, the wave of travelers also reaches the airports in North Rhine-Westphalia. Cologne/Bonn Airport expects the largest passenger wave of the year with the start of the North Rhhine-Westphalia summer holidays. Around 105,000 passengers are expected in total during the first weekend, among them 34,500 passengers today and 34,400 passengers tomorrow.
However, there is an notable difference this year: "While most passengers started their holidays directly at the beginning of the holidays last year, many travelers are waiting for the end of the European Football Championship this time," said a spokeswoman for the airport. The peak day is expected to be Friday after the final, with 41,000 passengers in Cologne/Bonn.
Sun destinations in the South in demand
The airport expects a total of 1.7 million passengers in the coming six and a half weeks. That would be more than in the summer of 2023. The busiest times are the last two holiday weekends in mid-August, each with around 118,000 passengers.
The most popular destinations are therefore sunny destinations in the South. The most popular countries among travelers are Turkey and Spain, as well as Italy and Greece. Morocco is experiencing the highest growth. Around 50 percent more passengers are expected to travel to Morocco from Cologne/Bonn this summer.
Many flights to Mallorca and Antalya
Düsseldorf Airport expects more than 215,000 passengers during the first holiday weekend. "The peak day is Sunday with over 75,000 passengers," reported North Rhine-Westphalia's largest airport. In total, around 3.3 million passengers are expected during the holiday season - six percent more than in the summer holidays of the previous year.
On average, around 68,000 passengers were expected until the last holiday day on August 20. The most flights went to Spain (around 1,900 departures), Turkey (around 1,800), Greece (around 1,000), and Italy (around 600). More than 800 planes go to Mallorca. Antalya is served by more than 600 flights.
Highest passenger inflow
Dortmund Airport expects more than 400,000 summer holidaymakers during the six and a half week holiday period. More than 150,000 passengers are expected at the Paderborn/Lippstadt Airport. "The North Rhine-Westphalia summer holidays are the phase with the highest passenger inflow for us throughout the year," said a spokesman.
At Munster/Osnabrueck Airport, around 335,000 passengers are expected during the North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony summer holidays - almost 100,000 more than in the summer holidays of the previous year. The airport in Weeze expects around 375,000 guests and more than 1,000 departures. "Palma de Mallorca is the most frequently served destination, followed by Girona and Zadar," said a spokesman for the airport.
- Many travelers from North Rhine-Westphalia are planning to spend their weekend in Bonn, as it's a popular city in the region.
- The air traffic at Cologne/Bonn Airport will significantly increase during the European Football Championship's end, affecting the city's traffic.
- For the Greek football fans in Cologne, the weekend after the European Football Championship could be a great opportunity to visit Greece during their summer vacation.
- This summer, the number of passengers at Düsseldorf Airport heading to Majorca, Spain, is expected to be significantly higher than last year.
- During the summer vacation, tourists from North Rhine-Westphalia often visit Antalya, Turkey, which is well-connected with Cologne/Bonn Airport.
- As a result of the travel wave, the schools in North Rhine-Westphalia will have fewer students during the weekend, as many choose to travel abroad instead.
- Italy is another popular destination for travelers from North Rhine-Westphalia, with many flights available from both Cologne/Bonn and Düsseldorf Airports.
- The weekends following the European Football Championship will see an increased demand for flights to sunny destinations, including Spain and Majorca.
- Tourists traveling from Cologne/Bonn Airport this summer will also find numerous opportunities for tourism in Antalya, Turkey, which is known for its beautiful beaches and historical sites.
- As the football championship final approaches, traffic in and around Cologne/Bonn Airport will be heavily impacted, leading to lengthy queues and potential delays for travelers.
