Total Passenger Traffic Reaches 5.7 Million Across RAM Airports in 2025
Passenger traffic at Madeira’s regional airports reached a new high in 2025. According to data from ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal, reported by the Regional Statistics Office of Madeira (DREM), nearly 5.7 million passengers used the airports during the year, passing the previous annual record.
This growth came alongside a rise in air operations. Across both airports, 38,742 commercial aircraft movements were recorded in 2025, confirming a strong year for air travel in the region.
UK and Germany Lead International Passenger Origins With 27.1% and 21.0%
Excluding transit passengers, airports in the region handled 5,636,100 embarked and disembarked passengers in 2025. Of these, 56.2% were linked to international routes, while 43.8% involved travel between national airports.
Country | Share of International Passengers (%) |
|---|---|
United Kingdom | 27.1% |
Germany | 21.0% |
France | 9.7% |
Poland | 9.5% |
December 2025 Records 383,700 Passengers and 2,857 Commercial Flights
The final month of the year closed with solid figures. In December 2025, the airports of the Autonomous Region of Madeira handled 383,700 passengers transported on 2,857 commercial flights.
Compared with December 2024, passenger numbers increased by 1.7%, while the number of aircraft movements fell by 2.0%. The data suggests fuller flights despite fewer operations during the month.
Madeira Airport Handles 5.4 Million Passengers, Up 12.2% From 2024
Madeira Airport accounted for the vast majority of traffic in the region. In 2025, it registered about 5.4 million passengers and 35,900 aircraft movements.
Both figures were higher than in 2024, with aircraft movements rising by 13.0% and passenger numbers increasing by 12.2%. The airport continued to act as the main international gateway to the archipelago.
Porto Santo Airport Sees 256,700 Passengers and Moderate Growth in 2025
Porto Santo Airport also reported higher activity, though on a smaller scale. During 2025, it served 256,700 passengers and recorded 2,800 aircraft movements.
Compared with the previous year, passenger traffic grew by 3.6% and aircraft movements by 2.4%, confirming a steady upward trend for the island’s air connections.
International Traffic Grows 17.4%, Domestic Traffic Rises 5.4% in 2025
International travel was the main driver of growth. In 2025, international passenger traffic across the region increased by 17.4%, reaching 3,179,300 passengers.
Domestic traffic also rose, though at a slower pace. Flights within national territory accounted for 2,474,100 passengers, an increase of 5.4% compared with 2024.
Regular Flights Account for Over 94% of Passengers in RAM Airports
Scheduled services continued to dominate airport activity. Regular flights represented 92.5% of all aircraft movements and carried 94.6% of passengers in 2025.
Both shares were slightly higher than in 2024, confirming the central role of regular commercial routes in Madeira’s air transport network.
Aircraft Occupancy Averages 85.2%, Lower Than 2024 Overall Rate
Aircraft flying to and from the region operated with high occupancy levels. In 2025, the average load factor across both airports stood at 85.2%.
Madeira Airport reached 85.5%, while Porto Santo Airport recorded 79.3%. For the region as a whole and for Madeira Airport, these rates were lower than in 2024, while Porto Santo showed a small increase.
Source: DREM
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