Significant increase in annual result
In the financial year 2024, Dortmund Airport saw a marked upward trend, reducing its annual deficit to 1.8 million euros, thanks to a record number of passengers. "This is the best result in 25 years," announced airport CEO Ludger van Bebber at the first Supervisory Board meeting in 2025. Besides reviewing passenger growth and the preliminary annual accounts, the current status of investments approved by the Supervisory Board was also reported.
With approximately 3.1 million passengers, 2024 became the most successful year in Dortmund Airport's history. The company's key figures also developed positively. The airport management stated today that they managed to halve the expected annual deficit from 3.6 million euros to 1.8 million euros. The operating result, excluding sovereign costs (EBITDA), also improved significantly from 1.9 million euros to 5.1 million euros. Moreover, the EU EBITDA, defined by the European Commission's airport guidelines, rose from 5.6 million euros to nearly 9 million euros. Van Bebber stressed that the consolidation process was on track, claiming they had made significant progress towards a break-even budget.
The final results for 2024 are expected to be announced in June, following the completion of an audit.
In addition to the promising financial progress, there were also advancements in infrastructure projects and the modernisation of the vehicle fleet. At the end of last year, the expansion of the departure checkpoint in front of Gates 11 and 12 was successfully completed. The process of electrifying the vehicle fleet continues to advance. By the second quarter of 2025, the airport expects to receive an additional electric aircraft tug and four mobile electric passenger stairs. An extra four staircases are scheduled to become airport property by autumn 2025.
Following the installation of the first two self-bag drop counters in May 2024 and the successful conclusion of their test phase, there are currently eight more check-in counters being converted to this operational mode. The self-bag drop terminals are hybrid counters, usable for either self-service or staff operation, as required. Passengers are anticipated to have the option to check their luggage independently at ten counters in the coming months.
In the first quarter of 2025, the positive trend from the previous year continued. Despite setbacks from a one-day warning strike by the union ver.di and cancellations due to weather, the airport experienced a 6.5% growth in passenger numbers compared to the same period last year.
Although air travel faces volatile conditions and increasing expenses, the airport aims to sustain its growth trajectory in the long term. For 2025, the initial focus is on maintaining the current number of passengers. By year's end, the airport aims to achieve a similar high passenger volume as the previous year, despite Ryanair's withdrawal and route reductions by Eurowings.