ZAGREB, 11 Aug (Hina) – Airports in Croatia saw a 7.3% rise in passenger numbers both in June and in the first half of this year compared to the same periods in 2024, with this growth being driven by 1.9 million passengers in June alone, and a total of 5.4 million in the first six months, show DZS data.
According to the figures provided by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS), this increase in passenger numbers in June was accompanied by a 6% increase in aircraft operations, reaching over 18,700 take-offs and landings.
H1 aircraft operations up 4.6%
Over the first six months of the year, aircraft operations rose by 4.6% to more than 59,900.
This June, as in previous years, Split once again topped all Croatian airports thanks to numerous seasonal air routes, handling 578,100 passengers, an increase of 8.2% compared to the same month last year.
All other airports also saw growth in passenger numbers in June, except for Brač , the smallest airport, which recorded a 16.1% decrease, handling around 3,500 passengers.
In terms of passenger numbers, Split was followed by Dubrovnik Airport, which handled 447,200 passengers (up 4% year-on-year), and Zagreb Airport in third place with 435,100 passengers, representing a 7.6% increase.
Zadar Airport saw a 9% rise compared to last June, with 294,000 passengers, while Pula Airport handled 94,600 passengers, up 12.4%.
After a prolonged period of decline, Rijeka Airport also recorded a double-digit increase in June, rising by 14.5% year-on-year to 29,500 passengers.
Osijek Airport also recorded a greater increase than last year, with passenger numbers up by 13.7%, handling around 5,500 travellers. Meanwhile, Mali Lošinj airfield , which, along with Brač, is one of the only island airports, saw a remarkable 82.6% increase compared to June last year, with 378 passengers.
In the first six months of the year, most airports recorded more passengers than in the same period last year. The highest increases were seen at Split and Zagreb airports, with growth of 10.7% and 9.1% respectively. They were followed by Rijeka Airport with an 8.5% increase and Dubrovnik Airport with a 6.5% rise.
Less cargo traffic
Unlike passenger traffic, cargo volumes at Croatian airports have declined this year, both in June and over the first six months, compared to last year.
In June alone, a total of 893 tonnes of cargo passed through all airports, which is 7.6% less than in June last year. The decline is slightly greater over the first half of the year, with cargo volumes down by 8.2%, amounting to just over 4,800 tonnes.
