More Summer Travelers Than Expected – Record Day at Oslo Airport

More than five million passengers traveled through Norwegian airports in July.
This represents a two percent increase compared to the same month last year. So far this year, there have been four percent more travelers than in 2024, with growth in both domestic and international travel.

In July, over 2.7 million passengers traveled to and from Norway, corresponding to a one percent increase in international travelers.

More Than Expected

Looking specifically at domestic travelers in July, there was a two percent increase this year compared to the same month last year.

– The summer has been good and slightly better than expected. The numbers for domestic travelers have been particularly notable, with a two percent increase compared to last year. At the same time, we are seeing a leveling off in the growth that characterized the first half of the year. We expect this leveling off going forward, with lower growth in the second half of the year compared to what we experienced in the first half, says Gaute Skallerud Riise, VP Traffic Development at Avinor.

He also highlights cargo, which saw growth in July.

– The cargo development at Oslo airport remains strong, with a six percent increase in July and eleven percent growth so far this year. Increased route capacity on long-haul flights has helped reduce transport time and distance for seafood exports. At the same time, imports are increasingly being sent directly to Oslo rather than via other hubs in Europe, he concludes.

Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels

The forecast for the number of travelers through Oslo Airport during the period from June 20th to August 20th was six million. Already in June and July combined, over 5.3 million travelers have passed through Norway’s largest airport. On July 13, 100.296 passengers traveled through the airport.

This is the first time so many people visited the airport in a single day since the pandemic began in March 2020.

Flight Movements

There were 53.517 commercial flight movements in July. This is a slight increase from July last year, and there have been three percent more flight movements so far this year.

Growth in Drone Flights Continues in July

Interest in responsible drone flying shows no signs of slowing down. In July, 3.265 drone flights were reported in Ninox Drone, Avinor’s system for managing drones.

– This is 50 percent more flights than in July last year, says Mats Gjertsen, Head of the Drone Program at Avinor.

– We have now seen clear growth throughout the year, and the July figures confirm that the positive trend continues. Both good summer weather and increased tourism have contributed to the activity.

So far this year, the number of reported drone flights is 30 percent higher than at the same time in 2024.

– It is inspiring to see that more people are choosing to fly in a safe and visible manner. When we receive so many reported flights during the peak season, it shows that responsible drone use has gained a solid foothold in Norway, says Gjertsen.

See more statistics for Avinor’s airports in the attachment.