The best result for a single month was achieved in August 2023, when 776 thousand travellers were served.
The Upper Silesian Aviation Group (GTL SA) – the company managing Katowice Wojciech Korfanty International Airport in Pyrzowice, Poland – has summarised record-breaking passenger traffic in 2023.
In December 2023, 311,735 passengers travelled from Katowice Airport, i.e. 57,845 more (+22.8%) in comparison with the same time period the year before. It was the best twelfth month in the airport’s history; the previous best result was achieved in 2019, when 278,849 passengers travelled on December flights to and from Katowice Airport.
The end of December saw the conclusion of 2023; it was the best calendar year in the history of Katowice Airport. 5,609.022 passengers were handled during that time at Katowice Airport, i.e. 1 189,931 more (+26.9%) than during twelve months of 2022 and 765 133 more (+15.8%) than during the previous best year (2019), during which 4,843.889 travellers were noted. It must be underlined that, on 3 November 2023 (Friday), for the first time in the history of Katowice Airport, more than 5 million passengers were handled during a single calendar year.
Last year, the record for the number of passengers served in a single day and month were both surpassed. The new daily record – 29,426 passengers – was noted on 16 July 2023.
During twelve months of 2023, Wizz Air, Ryanair, LOT Polish Airlines and Air Dolomiti (the airline handles flights for Lufthansa) served 2,954.350 passengers on flights to and from Katowice Airport, i.e. 553,853 more (+23.1%) in comparison with 2022 and 140,567 more (+5.0%) than in 2019. Most popular were scheduled flights to the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain and Norway. Passengers most often travelled from Katowice Airport on regular flights to Dortmund, London-Luton, London-Stansted, Eindhoven and Frankfurt.
From January to the end of December 2023, 2 634 524 passengers were handled at Katowice Airport on charter flights, operated on behalf of travel agencies. That’s 634 405 passengers more (+31.7%) in comparison with the same time period in 2022, and 628 198 more (+31.3%) than in 2019. Last year, approximately 47% of all passengers flying via the Katowice Airport network travelled on charter flights. Most often, passengers travelled on holiday to Turkey, Egypt, Greece, Tunisia and Spain. Most popular were charter flights connecting Katowice Airport with Antalya, Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Rhodes and Heraklion.
From January to the end of December 2023, 45 167 aircraft operations were noted, i.e. 5 044 more (+12.6%) than the year before and 3 561 more (+8.6%) than in 2019.
“Passenger traffic in 2023 exceeded our expectations. Handling five million passengers in a single calendar year for the first time in the airport’s history is another milestone for the development of Katowice Airport. We expect the growth to continue in the foreseeable future. In 2024, we should handle approximately six million passengers, and we should reach eight million served travellers in 2028. As a result of growing traffic, it is necessary to develop the airport’s infrastructure. That’s why we have prepared a big investment program, which will be realised in 2024 – 2028, with its key element being a central passenger terminal covering 50 thousand square metres. The building will be equipped with jet ways, and connected with a railway station via a tunnel,” said Artur Tomasik, the President of the Board of the Upper Silesian Aviation Group, the company managing Katowice Airport.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
