Passenger numbers at Portuguese Airports continue to rise in April 2025
According to data released by the National Statistics Institute (INE), this marks a continuation of the upward trend that began at the start of the year, with April setting yet another monthly record for passenger traffic, excluding February.
Portugal’s airports recorded steady growth in April 2025, handling 6.5 million passengers, an 8.1% increase compared to the same month in 2024.
The Lisbon Airport maintained its position as the country’s busiest air hub, welcoming 3.1 million passengers—a 4.4% increase year-over-year. Porto Airport followed with 1.5 million passengers, reflecting an 8.8% rise, while Faro Airport experienced the highest growth rate, soaring by 13.6% and surpassing the 1 million passenger mark for the first time this year.
Daily passenger volumes see strong uptick
On average, 109,900 passengers arrived daily at Portuguese airports in April, a notable rise of 8.3% compared to the 101,500 daily arrivals recorded in April 2024. The INE highlights that air traffic patterns tend to reflect seasonal and weekly cycles, with Sundays typically seeing the highest passenger volumes, especially during the summer months.
International travel continues to dominate
International flights accounted for over 82% of all passenger arrivals, totaling 2.7 million international inbound travelers—a growth of 8.5% from the same period last year. The European continent remained the main source of inbound tourism, contributing 2.3 million passengers (69.2% of the total), followed by the Americas with 287,000 passengers (8.7% of the total, up 5.8%).
Outbound passenger data mirrored this trend. Of the 3.2 million total passengers who departed from Portugal, 81.9% were traveling internationally, primarily to European destinations (2.2 million, or 68.9%). Flights to the American continent also rose sharply, accounting for 270,000 passengers, up 15.9% from April 2024.
Over 20 million passengers from January to April
From January to April 2025, a total of 20.5 million passengers transited through Portuguese airports, marking a 4.2% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
- Lisbon Airport handled 10.7 million passengers (52.4% of the total), up 2.3%
- Porto Airport welcomed 4.7 million (+4.5%)
- Faro Airport served 2.2 million, rising 8.1%
United Kingdom takes lead as top International Market
In the first four months of 2025, the United Kingdom became the leading international origin and destination for flights to and from Portugal. Arrivals from the UK rose by 2.5%, while departures to the UK increased by 1.8%, overtaking France, which fell to second place with stable figures. Spain and Germany remained in third and fourth positions, respectively, with Italy completing the top five.
Flight activity also on the rise
In addition to the surge in passenger numbers, over 22,000 aircraft movements were recorded in April, representing a 6.7% increase compared to April 2024. This growth reinforces Portugal’s expanding role as a key air travel hub in Southern Europe, driven by sustained tourism demand and improved international connectivity.
Key Takeaways
- Total passengers in April 2025: 6.5 million (+8.1%)
- Lisbon Airport: 3.1 million (+4.4%)
- Porto Airport: 1.5 million (+8.8%)
- Faro Airport: 1+ million (+13.6%)
- Daily passenger arrivals: 109,900 (+8.3%)
- International travel share: Over 82% of total traffic
- Top international origin/destination: United Kingdom
With passenger traffic reaching historic highs in 2025, Portugal’s airport sector continues to show robust recovery and expansion. As summer approaches, further growth is anticipated, especially as international demand remains strong and airlines continue to add capacity to and from key global markets.