Lisbon, Oct. 14, 2024 (Lusa) — The number of passengers handled at national airports increased by 4.5% until August, compared to the first eight months of 2023, to 47.496 million, almost half of which were in Lisbon, according to data from Statistics Portugal(INE), released on Monday.

According to the rapid statistics on air transport, Lisbon airport handled 49.3% of all passengers (23.4 million; +4.4% compared to the same period in 2023), while Porto concentrated 22.6% of all passengers handled (10.7 million; +5.3%).

Faro airport saw a 2.1% increase in passenger movements, totalling 6.8 million.

Considering the volume of passengers disembarked and embarked on international flights in the first eight months of this year, the United Kingdom was the main country of origin and destination for flights, with increases in the number of passengers disembarked (+1.7%) and embarked (+2.0%) compared to the same period in 2023.

In the opposite direction, France recorded decreases in the number of passengers disembarked (-2.%) and embarked (-3.1%), and occupied second place, followed by Spain, Germany and Italy as the main countries of origin and destination.

During the first eight months of 2024 there were historic highs in monthly passenger numbers at national airports, with an average daily landing of 116,500 passengers in August, 3.2% more than in the same month last year (112,900).

There was also a 14.6% increase in cargo and mail movements in the first eight months of the year, compared to a 2.4% decrease in the same period last year.

In August, the movement of cargo and mail increased by 18.%, to 20,800 tonnes, compared to the same month in 2023.

MPE/ADB // ADB.

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