Air Traffic Movement on the Rise at Munich Airport

‍DALLAS — Munich Airport (MUC) saw increased air traffic in the first half of this year. MUC reports higher passenger, aircraft, and cargo volumes compared with the same period last year.

The increased air traffic results for the first half of 2024 reflect the continued high demand for air travel at Munich Airport. 

The airport handled more than 19 million passengers from January 1 to June 30, an increase of 14.8 percent compared to the same period last year. Thus, Munich Airport achieved almost 85 percent of the passenger volume in 2019 alone in the first half of 2024. 

The average load factor for aircraft in MUC has risen to an all-time high of 80 percent, setting a record for Munich Airport. Intercontinental air traffic grew strongly, with passenger growth of almost 19 percent. 

Similar to the high demand for flights to destinations in the USA, flights to destinations in the Far East have also increased to levels seen in the first half of 2019, with just under 1.2 million passengers on these routes in the first six months of this year.

Increased Aircraft Movements

The number of aircraft movements also rose during the first six months of the year. Over 156,000 take-offs and landings were recorded at MUC in the first half of 2024, an increase of over ten percent year over year. 

However, the number of flights has increased by 76 percent compared to 2019. MUC airport, Bavaria's aviation hub, now offers flights to around 160 destinations worldwide, including 47 intercontinental destinations.

The growth trend is set to continue for the rest of the year, as other new long-haul destinations have already been announced. This exciting development at Munich Airport is a testament to its strategic planning and future-focused approach. 

Airlines operating long-haul flights from Munich are increasingly using modern long-haul aircraft, including the Airbus A350-900. While 140 departures per week are scheduled for this type of aircraft in the summer, the number will rise to 170 in the fall.

Rising Cargo Volumes

MUC is an important cargo hub. The increase in air traffic has benefited the airport's cargo business. Cargo at MUC airport now totals around 147,000 tons, up eleven percent from last year's period. 

Munich Airport is close to several German manufacturers, including the BMW Group. Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Meta also have offices in Munich.