Increase in air passenger traffic in Romania during the initial quarter of 2025 registered at 8.1%
In the first quarter of 2025, Romania witnessed a significant surge in air travel, with an 8.1% increase in passenger traffic compared to the same period in 2024. This growth, amounting to over half a million additional passengers, reflects a strengthening in air travel demand within the country.
### Top Performing Airports
Bucharest’s Henri Coandă (Otopeni) Airport remained the busiest, handling over 3.5 million passengers (1.82 million departures and 1.73 million arrivals). Cluj-Napoca’s Avram Iancu Airport followed closely with 672,900 passengers, and Iași International Airport ranked third with 452,400 passengers.
### International Airports of Origin
London Luton was the most popular international destination from Romania on regular flights in Q1 2025, with 236,137 passengers. Milan Bergamo was the second-busiest, handling 129,590 passengers, while Istanbul International Airport came in third with 88,528 passengers.
The top ten international airports of origin for passengers arriving in Romania on scheduled flights were completed by Brussels Charleroi, Munich, Madrid Barajas, Paris Beauvais, Dortmund, Rome Fiumicino, Bologna, and the Netherlands.
### Key Insights
Air travel is increasingly being used for medium and even short distances, not just long-distance travel. Romania currently operates 17 airports capable of handling international air traffic.
This upward trend in air passenger traffic aligns with broader European aviation growth patterns, as global demand for air travel also rose notably in 2025, with international traffic leading the increase. The passenger growth at Romanian airports is an indicator of the country's expanding connectivity and tourism appeal.
Domestic air traffic in Q1 2025 was concentrated around three main airports: Henri Coandă in Bucharest accounted for 49.4% of all domestic passengers, Cluj-Napoca for 18.7%, and Timișoara's Traian Vuia Airport for 13.1%.
[1] Source: Romanian Airports Authority (ARA) data.
Lifestyle changes in Romania seem to have contributed to the increased demand for travel, as shown by the 8.1% surge in air travel passengers in Q1 2025. General news reports also indicate that this trend aligns with broader European aviation growth patterns, with international traffic leading the increase, suggesting a strengthening connectivity and tourism appeal in the country.
