Oslo Airport Leads May Traffic Surge with 7% Increase in Travelers
In a significant uptick in air travel, Oslo Airport has recorded a 7% increase in passenger numbers for May, setting a leading example in aviation traffic growth. This growth marks a positive trend in both domestic and international travel.
The volume of domestic travelers at Oslo Airport increased by 2%, rising from 2.49 million in May 2023 to 2.55 million in May 2024. International travel saw an even more impressive surge of 9%, with numbers climbing from 1.75 million in 2023 to 1.91 million in 2024. These figures have surpassed initial projections for the year, with the robust performance of international traffic being a major contributing factor.
Gaute Skallerud Riise, Director of Traffic Development at Avinor, commented on the positive market trends: "The market development is positive, and we see that the planes are filling up better than in the same period last year. As we enter June, we see that the summer traffic has gotten off to a good start with many travel-happy Norwegians heading abroad, but also tourists coming to Norway. The share of incoming tourists is still rising after the pandemic and this coming summer is expected to be well above last year for this category of travelers."
However, Riise also expressed concerns about the slower development in the Norwegian market compared to other European markets, which could affect the competitiveness of Norwegian businesses. Despite this, the international freight market at Oslo Airport continues to grow strongly, with a 17% increase in freight tonnage for May. This growth is primarily driven by seafood exports and a rise in e-commerce deliveries routed through Oslo Airport instead of being transported by truck from other European hubs.
In terms of passenger numbers and flight movements in May, Oslo Airport led with 2,347,000 passengers, marking a 7% increase from last year. Bergen Airport followed with 583,000 travelers, reflecting a 1% rise, and Trondheim Airport recorded 360,000 passengers, also a 1% increase from the previous year.
Additionally, May saw a new record in drone flights, with Ninox Drone, Avinor’s drone management system, reporting 2,996 drone flights. Mats Gjertsen, who leads Avinor’s drone program, noted, "Sun and summer significantly increase the use of drones. We see more than a doubling from May 2023. In addition, we have now passed 10,000 registered users in Ninox Drone, and we encourage everyone who plans to fly a drone to download the app."
