Freight traffic at European airports fell sharply by 9.1% in January 2025, compared to the same month last year, according to the latest report from ACI EUROPE, the continent’s airport trade body.
The decline marks a challenging start to the year for air cargo, contrasting with the continued growth seen in passenger traffic across Europe.
Among Europe’s top 10 freight airports, only four reported year-on-year growth:
- Madrid (+6.9%)
- Cologne (+4.2%)
- Liège (+2.8%)
- London Heathrow (+0.5%)
Despite the overall downturn, Frankfurt, Istanbul, and London Heathrow remained the busiest freight hubs by total volume in January.
Aircraft Movements Recover Slowly
Aircraft movements rose 4.6% compared to January 2024, but activity remains below pre-pandemic levels, down 7.9% from 2019.
The figures suggest that while passenger demand continues to recover, freight volumes are facing headwinds, potentially linked to slowing global trade and shifting supply chain dynamics.
