AviationNews – Dutch airports welcomed over 21.2 million passengers during the second quarter of 2026, marking a 2.3% increase compared to the same period last year despite a drop in total flights. Meanwhile, air cargo traffic experienced a robust surge of 15.4%, surpassing 410,000 tonnes across key national hubs.
According to new data released by Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the country’s five major commercial airports achieved passenger growth even as total commercial flight movements dropped by 1.5% to 139,600 flights. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol maintained its dominance, processing 18.3 million passengers—an increase of 2%—and handling 395,200 tonnes of air freight. Regional airports also showed strong momentum; Rotterdam The Hague Airport recorded the highest regional passenger growth at 6.5%, while Maastricht Aachen Airport saw a 25% rise in cargo volume.
The key driver behind higher passenger totals on fewer flights was a significant jump in aircraft load factors, which rose from 80.3% in Q2 2025 to 83.4% in 2026. Airlines maximized efficiency by optimizing seating capacity, enabling overall capacity expansion despite flight movement restrictions. In cargo operations, the average freight payload per flight climbed to 53.2 tonnes, up from 50.3 tonnes a year earlier, signaling stronger global trade flows and improved cargo hold utilization.
“The Q2 data highlights how airlines operating in the Netherlands are achieving higher efficiency through improved seat occupancy and heavier freight payloads,” remarked a spokesperson from CBS. “Even amidst geopolitical headwinds that depressed traffic to specific Middle Eastern destinations, overall demand across European and international routes remained exceptionally strong.”
Looking ahead, Dutch aviation is poised to maintain its strategic position within European air transport, buoyed by sustained demand for international travel and freight transport. As airlines continue to optimize routes and fleet management, industry stakeholders must focus on balancing sustainability targets with capacity demands to ensure long-term resilience.
Overall, the second-quarter statistics show that air travel and cargo demand in the Netherlands remain on a firm upward trajectory. Bumper passenger loads and double-digit freight growth demonstrate strong market demand even under tight operational constraints. Moving forward, maintaining high load factors will be critical for airlines navigating market volatility and regulatory limits.
