Travel patterns from Germany’s main airports during the summer flight schedule (April to October 2025) reveal a number of trends among holidaymakers.
While the total number of air travellers has not completely rebounded since the Covid pandemic, data released by the Germany's statistics office (Destatis) highlights shifts across domestic, short-haul and long-haul journeys.
In total, 68.5 million passengers departed Germany for destinations abroad during the summer, marking a rise of 4.6 percent compared to the previous year.
However, this figure remains 2.8 percent below the record summer of 2019, prior to the pandemic-induced slump.
Where do travellers from Germany tend to fly the most?
Short-haul travel from Germany saw an overall increase this summer, with European destinations recording growth compared to the previous year.
Spain retained its position as the most popular summer destination, attracting 10.5 million passengers – a 1.5 percent rise from 2024 and slightly exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
Turkey, however, stands out for its rapid growth: 7.7 million people flew there, up 7.8 percent from last year and a remarkable 33.7 percent higher than in 2019.
Italy followed with 5.3 million passengers, showing a 4.9 percent increase over 2024, though still 5.8 percent below 2019 figures.
Greece also saw significant gains, with 4.5 million travellers – up 6.7 percent from 2024 and 27 percent from 2019.
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United States still the most popular long-haul destination for Germans
In the realm of long-haul travel, the United States remains the clear favourite among German travellers, despite a slight decline in numbers.
During the summer of 2025, 4.5 million passengers flew to the US, representing a 1.4 percent decrease from the previous year and 3.6 percent below the record set in 2019.
Nevertheless, the US is still far ahead of other intercontinental destinations.
Egypt, the second most popular long-haul destination, saw a surge in popularity with 1.4 million travellers – an increase of 12.3 percent over last summer and 15 percent above pre-pandemic levels.
Domestic flights continue to decline
The number of people taking domestic flights within Germany continued its downward trajectory in the summer of 2025.
Passenger volume fell by 0.7 percent compared to the previous year, with 5.3 million travellers opting for domestic routes.
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Although this percentage drop may seem modest, it is significant when viewed against pre-pandemic figures: domestic air travel is now 54.9 percent lower than in the summer of 2019.
This sustained reduction suggests a long-term shift away from domestic flights, possibly reflecting changing preferences or increased environmental awareness among travellers.
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