Summer vacation travel wave at NRW airports starts smoothly

Vacation - Summer vacation travel wave at NRW airports starts smoothly

After the start of the summer holidays in the most populous federal state, airports are reporting a positive balance. A spokesperson for Düsseldorf Airport announced on Saturday afternoon that the holiday season has been successful so far. Passengers had to wait only a few minutes at security checks, allowing for a relaxed start to the vacation. The atmosphere in the terminal was described as "happy" by a spokesperson. The busiest day of the weekend is expected to be Sunday, with approximately 75,000 passengers.

Similarly, a spokeswoman for Dortmund Airport reported: The airport is "well-prepared for the holidays." Since April, preparations have been underway for the travel wave. With an expected 27,000 passengers from Friday to Sunday, passenger traffic is roughly the same as for the summer holiday season of 2023.

At Cologne/Bonn Airport, there is an increased passenger volume this weekend with a total of 105,000 passengers from Friday to Sunday. Operations are running normally without any major incidents or longer waiting times.

However, there is a notable difference this year: "While most passengers started their vacation directly at the beginning of the holidays last year, many travelers are waiting for the end of the European Championship," said an Airport spokeswoman. The peak day is expected to be the Friday following the final. Then, 41,000 travelers are expected to depart and arrive in Cologne/Bonn.

Sun destinations in the South in demand

The airport anticipates a total of 1.7 million passengers during the six and a half weeks. This is 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 sunny locations in the South. The most popular countries among travelers are Turkey and Spain, followed by Italy and Greece. Morocco is experiencing the highest increase in travelers. There will be around 50% more passengers traveling to Morocco from Cologne/Bonn this summer.

Many flights to Mallorca and Antalya

Düsseldorf Airport expects a total of 3.3 million passengers during the entire holiday season - a 6% increase from the previous summer holidays. On average, around 68,000 passengers are expected daily until August 20th. The most flights go to Spain (around 1,900 departures), Turkey (around 1,800), Greece (around 1,000), and Italy (around 600). More than 800 planes fly to Mallorca. Antalya is served by over 600 flights.

Highest passenger traffic

Dortmund Airport anticipates over 400,000 summer vacationers during the six and a half week holiday period. Over 150,000 passengers are expected at Paderborn/Lippstadt Airport. "The North Rhine-Westphalia summer holidays are the phase with the highest passenger traffic for us throughout the year," said a spokesperson.

At Munster/Osnabruck Airport in North Rhine-Westphalia and the neighboring federal state of Lower Saxony, around 335,000 passengers are expected during the summer holidays - nearly 100,000 more than in the summer holidays of the previous year. The airport in Weeze anticipates around 375,000 visitors and over 1,000 departures.

"Palma de Mallorca will be the most frequently served destination, followed by Girona and Zadar," said an airport spokesperson.

1. Many travelers from North Rhine-Westphalia started their summer vacation with a smooth journey through Cologne/Bonn Airport.
2. On Saturday, a spokesperson for Düsseldorf International Airport reported a successful weekend with minimal wait times at security checks.
3. The popularity of sun destinations in the South, such as Antalya and Mallorca, is evident in the high passenger numbers at Cologne/Bonn Airport.
4. As part of their weekend getaway, some families chose to visit schools in Italy, a common tourist attraction.
5. Düsseldorf Airport witnessed an increase in air traffic during the summer vacation, reflecting a strong demand for travel.
6. With around 75,000 passengers expected on Sunday, it was announced that the busiest day of the weekend would be at Cologne/Bonn Airport.
7. Dortmund Airport, too, saw an increase in passengers from Friday to Sunday, with over 27,000 individuals making use of its facilities.
8. During the summer vacation, Turkey emerged as one of the most preferred holiday destinations among travelers from various parts of North Rhine-Westphalia.
9. Spain and Greece also saw a surge in visitors from Cologne/Bonn Airport, as people sought out sunny locations for their summer break.
10. The quieter days of the weekend at Cologne/Bonn Airport saw a decrease in passenger numbers, but the airport still handled close to 105,000 travelers.
11. The situation at Düsseldorf Airport mirrored that of Cologne/Bonn, with daily passenger numbers averaging around 68,000 until August 20th.

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