Lisbon, Sept. 12, 2025 (Lusa) - Passenger traffic at Portuguese airports grew by 4.9% from January to July, compared to the same period last year, according to data released on Friday by INE.
According to the rapid air transport statistics published by the National Statistics Institute (INE), 42 million passengers passed through national airports.
"Between January and July 2025, the number of passengers handled increased by 4.9% and cargo and mail traffic grew by 2.6% (+4.7% and +14.0% in the same period of 2024, in the same order),’ INE indicates.
The United Kingdom was the main country of origin and destination for flights, considering the volume of passengers disembarking and embarking on international flights in the first seven months of 2025.
There was an "increase in the number of passengers disembarking (+2.9%) and embarking (+2.6%) compared to the same period in 2024," according to INE.
Conversely, "France recorded decreases in the number of passengers disembarking (-1.5%) and embarking (-1.3%) and ranked second. Spain, Germany and Italy ranked third, fourth and fifth, respectively, as the main countries of origin and destination," according to INE.
The capital's airport infrastructure accounted for almost half of all movements in the first seven months of the year.
"Lisbon airport handled 49.1% of total passengers (20.6 million), +3.0% compared to the same period in 2024. Faro airport recorded a 7.3% increase in passenger traffic (around six million, 14.2% of the total) and Porto airport accounted for 22.8% of total passenger traffic (9.6 million) and increased by 5.5%," says INE, in its review of the period from January to July.
As for cargo and mail, there was an increase of 2.6% between January and July, totalling 148,200 tonnes.
"Freight traffic at Lisbon airport accounted for 78.0% of the total, reaching 115,600 tonnes (+4.0% compared to the same period in 2024). At the other airports, cargo and mail traffic decreased by 1.9%," according to the statistical institute.
In July alone, 7.6 million passengers passed through the airports, an increase of 5.2% year-on-year.
Although July's growth trajectory was above 5%, in the previous month the difference compared to the same period last year had been greater. In June, the number of passengers had grown by 6%.
With regard to cargo and mail movements, INE data show that 22,800 tonnes were transported in July, an increase of 3.2% compared to July last year. This segment also saw a slowdown in growth. In June, cargo and mail had grown by 3.9% year-on-year.
INE statistics take into account movements at the airport infrastructures of Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Ponta Delgada, Madeira, Porto Santo, Beja, Horta, Flores, Santa Maria, Terceira, Pico, Graciosa, São Jorge, Corvo, Portimão, Bragança, Cascais, Vila Real and Viseu.
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