Milan Bergamo Airport has recorded strong growth in passenger numbers on its expanding network of leisure routes. The surge in holiday travel is being driven by new destinations introduced this year, including Dubrovnik, Skiathos, Biarritz, and Boa Vista in Cape Verde. With more passengers seeking sun, sea, and cultural adventures, several leisure routes are seeing record increases, and new opportunities abound for airlines looking to expand their networks.

Leisure destinations with the highest increase in passenger traffic year-on-year from Bergamo this summer include Djerba, Santorini, Tirana, Olbia, and Malta. Passengers from Bergamo Airport have embraced a variety of Mediterranean destinations, with the most popular choices being domestic locations within Italy as well as top leisure spots in Spain and Morocco.

However, not all leisure markets are purely for holidays. Destinations in the south of Italy, especially the islands, attract large numbers of Italians traveling for vacations. At the same time, they are significant for Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) traffic and business travel. Tirana, one of the fastest-growing routes from Bergamo, is increasingly popular for leisure, yet remains a critical connection for Albania’s VFR market. This dynamic mix of passengers provides a strong, year-round demand that extends beyond the holiday season.

Giacomo Cattaneo, Director of Commercial Aviation, SACBO, said: “Our airport is witnessing a surge in demand for leisure routes, and we are excited about the opportunities this creates for both travellers and airlines. With new destinations performing exceptionally well, and passenger numbers continuing to grow, we see vast potential for airlines to expand their operations at Bergamo Airport, especially in underserved and unserved routes.”

As the demand for leisure travel continues to grow, Milan Bergamo Airport is looking to further diversify its destination offerings. The airport sees particular potential in underserved destinations such as Sharm el Sheik, Marsa Alam, the Greek islands and Canary Islands.

Moreover, there are promising opportunities for airlines to introduce services to currently unserved destinations, including Mykonos, Samos, Larnaca, Bodrum, Antalya, Funchal, Ponta Delgada, and Hurghada.

In addition to traditional holiday travel, Milan Bergamo Airport has seen a significant uptick in long-haul leisure traffic. While there are currently no direct flights to long-haul destinations like the Maldives, Sri Lanka, or Zanzibar, many passengers are connecting through hubs such as Sharjah, Dubai, and Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen. This emerging trend highlights the growing demand for more comprehensive long-haul leisure services, presenting new opportunities for airlines to tap into this growing market segment.

Milan Bergamo Airport continues to grow as a favoured hub for leisure travellers, particularly as the airport expands its reach to more distant destinations like Cape Verde, opening up a world of opportunity for future airline partnerships.