Ljubljana Airport Passenger Traffic Jumps 11%; New Routes Boost 2026 Outlook

Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport (LJU) achieved strong passenger growth in 2025. The airport handled 1,591,443 travelers, a 10.6% increase over the previous year. This marks the fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth for the Slovenian hub. The airport is operated by Fraport Slovenia.

Post-Pandemic Recovery Accelerates

The 2025 Jože Pučnik Airport traffic shows a strong recovery trend. However, the figure remains below the 1.8 million passenger peak from 2018. That peak was reached before the collapse of flag carrier Adria Airways. The loss of Adria Airways in late 2019 cut nearly half of the airport's route network. The current growth is vital for rebuilding Slovenia's air connectivity.

The busiest travel months were July and August, each exceeding 180,000 passengers. December recorded the sharpest growth, jumping 18.7% year-on-year. This success is due to "long-term, systematic efforts" to expand the destination network. This was stated by Fraport Slovenia Managing Director Babett Stapel.

Key Destinations and Market Trends

The most popular scheduled routes connect LJU to major European hubs. These include Istanbul, Frankfurt, Zurich, Amsterdam, and London. Charter flights remain important for holiday travel. Top charter destinations included Hurghada, Antalya, and Rhodes. This reflects a strong demand for both business and leisure travel.

Positive Outlook for 2026 Summer Season Routes

The outlook for the 2026 summer season is promising. Airlines are announcing new services and capacity increases. This confirms confidence in the Ljubljana airport recovery.

• Pegasus Airlines is launching flights to Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen this month.
• EasyJet will start a new route to Edinburgh in April.
• Wizz Air plans to add Podgorica to its network in June.

Other carriers are also boosting their presence. Spanish carrier Iberia will significantly extend its seasonal Madrid route. KLM and Swiss are improving onward connectivity with better flight timings. Lufthansa will deploy larger aircraft on its Frankfurt and Munich services. AirBaltic, Aegean Airlines, Flydubai, and British Airways all plan more frequent flights. This expansion signals a robust rebound in the Slovenian air travel market. The continued investment helps mitigate the long-term Adria Airways collapse impact. The overall European airport traffic recovery benefits LJU's strategic position.

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