International Air Traffic Increases 15%, Domestic Travel Decreases

Over 440,000 Passengers Passed Through Regional Airports

In March 2025, airports in the Autonomous Region of Madeira (RAM) recorded 442,500 passengers on 2,975 commercial flights. This was an increase of 6.7% in passenger traffic and 7.1% in aircraft movements compared to March 2024, according to figures from ANA - Airports of Portugal, released by the Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira (DREM).

The majority of traffic was concentrated at Madeira Airport, which handled 431,800 passengers and 2,808 flights. This was a rise of 7.7% in passengers and 8.5% in flights compared to the same month last year. In contrast, Porto Santo Airport saw a decline: 10,700 passengers and 167 flights, down 22.0% and 12.1%, respectively. Officials noted that this year’s Easter holiday fell in April, unlike in 2024 when it was in March, which may have influenced travel figures.

First Quarter Results Show Strong Start to the Year

During the first three months of 2025, the region’s airports saw 1.14 million passengers, a 6.7% rise compared to the same period last year. Madeira Airport averaged about 154 passengers per aircraft in March, slightly lower than the 155 from last year. Porto Santo had an average of 64 passengers per flight, down from 72 in March 2024.

15.8% Increase in International Travel

In March, international travel made up 205,900 passengers, a 15.8% increase from last year. Meanwhile, domestic travel fell by 3.2% to 191,500 passengers. At Madeira Airport, international flights made up a larger share (57.1%) than domestic ones (42.9%). In Porto Santo, domestic travel continued to dominate, accounting for 60.8% of passengers.

However, average occupancy rates slightly declined. In March 2025, planes flying in and out of RAM airports had an average load factor of 86.0%, compared to 87.9% last year. Madeira Airport’s occupancy dropped from 88.5% to 86.7%, and Porto Santo saw a sharper fall from 72.9% to 65.6%.

From January to March, 56.5% of RAM airport traffic involved international routes, while 43.5% was domestic. The United Kingdom was the top international destination or point of origin, making up 29.1% of foreign traffic. Germany followed with 22.8%, and Poland with 12.4%.

Madeira Expands Airlines, Routes, and Destinations

During the winter season defined by the International Air Transport Association (October 27, 2024 to March 29, 2025), Madeira Airport saw growth in its commercial flight offerings. It hosted 32 airlines (up from 28 the previous winter), flying 65 routes to 61 destinations. Porto Santo’s figures remained stable with 5 airlines, 5 routes, and 5 destinations.

Public Dashboard Launched for Air Transport Statistics

To make this data more accessible, DREM has introduced an interactive online dashboard. The tool allows users to explore air transport statistics more easily and visually, continuing DREM’s push to make public data easier to understand.

Source: DREM