Passenger Traffic at Croatia Airports Soars by Seven Percent Last Year, With Zagreb Leading Growth: What New Updates You Need to Know

Air passenger traffic at Croatian airports increased by 7% in 2025 to over 13.99 million passengers. This data, provided by the national statistics office, shows an increase from approximately 13.1 million passengers in 2024. This growth continues to reflect the recovery of tourism in Croatia as the country remains a sought-after travel destination in Europe.

The increase in passenger traffic has also been reflected in the country’s primary intake, Zagreb. With Zagreb airport increasing to 4.7 million passengers in 2025, an increase of 9.2% from 2024, this growth of over 4 million passengers shows the central role Zagreb airport plays in the country’s travel sector, making it the largest airport in the country.

The National Growth of Split and Dubrovnik Airports

In addition to the rapid growth of Zagreb airport, Split airport and Dubrovnik airports also received more passengers, establishing the three as pivotal travel airports in Croatia. Split airport had 3.8 million passengers in 2025, and Dubrovnik airport had 3.1 million passengers in the same year. These three airports—Dubrovnik, Split, and Zagreb—serve as the coastal area of Croatia, a region that is able to serve as a point of entry for both foreign and local travelers.

Zagreb had the highest number of passengers handled, while Split and Dubrovnik play important roles in connecting Croatia with Europe and beyond, especially in the summer peak travel months. Their development shows that Croatia’s popularity as a Mediterranean tourist destination remains strong.

December – Stronger-than-Expected Growth

In December 2025, Croatia’s airports handled 6.6% more passengers than in December 2024. The end-of-year spike in traffic is a strong signal of leisure and business travel demand, and the December traffic spike in Croatia reinforces the country’s popularity as a winter travel destination.

The increase in December was consistent with the growth seen in other months throughout the year. This strong demand for travel in December is evident throughout the European Union, further affirming Croatia’s status as a year-round destination.

Effect of International Travel and Regional Connectivity

The increasing volumes of travelers at Croatian airports are indicative of its stronger links to key markets in Europe. As a new European Union member state, Croatia has seen the introduction of more direct flights from various European destinations in the peak summer travel months, as well as increased European traveler access to the airports. With flights to Croatia, travelers can now experience the cultural and natural splendor of the country, including its historic cities, beautiful coastline, and vibrant urban centers.

Air traffic to Croatia increased as tourism in Europe recovers, particularly for sun, culture, and adventure in southern Europe. With local government and airline support, Croatian airports can build on these positive trends.

Performance of Croatian Airports Compared to Preceding Years

Croatian airports recorded a remarkable 16% annual increase in the number of passengers for 2024. 2024 set a high standard for passenger growth, and given the global economic climate, 2025’s 7% growth is particularly noteworthy. The consistent growth of Croatian airports assures continued success.

The predicted growth rate for 2025 is slightly less compared to 2024 growth rate predictions. This is still an indicator of a positive trend for Croatian airports. Given current global economic conditions and post-pandemic travel patterns, a decrease in growth rate is understandable. As passenger traffic increases, Croatia is positively affected in terms of the tourism sector.

The Croatian Aviation Sector Also Faces Challenges

Passenger numbers may be increasing; however, the Croatian Aviation Sector has struggled in some areas. Operational activity has increased, as indicated by a 4.4% increase in the number of take-offs and landings at Croatian airports in 2025. In contrast to this, global supply chain changes have resulted in a 12% decrease in cargo. Given recent history, this is especially concerning for the sector, as the industry has only just started to recover financially.

As cargo volume decreases, the airport’s revenue can also decline as they rely on freight services in addition to passenger services. However, since passenger traffic continues to increase, the optimism for Croatian airports remains high. Therefore, they are focusing on the expansion of services and improvements in infrastructure to keep pace with the increasing number of passengers.

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