Maastricht Aachen airport reports €11.5 million loss in 2024 as passenger growth slows

Maastricht Aachen Airport reported a larger financial loss for 2024 compared to the previous year, amid declining air cargo volume and minimal growth in passenger numbers. The airport, which experienced an eight-week closure in 2023 for runway renovation, transported 230,932 passengers in 2024, a slight increase from 228,660 in 2023. However, cargo volume dropped from 32,275 to 29,448 metric tons.

Joost Meijs, CEO of the airport’s holding company, said, "We are naturally not satisfied with the results. 2024 recorded a significant loss, just like 2023." The company ended 2024 with an 11.5 million euro loss, up from 6.8 million euros the year before.

Meijs outlined plans to improve or reduce loss-making activities in 2025 to achieve healthier operations. “It is already clear that losses will continue for the coming years. Our goal is to reach break-even operating results by 2027,” he said.

The path to breaking even will be difficult, Meijs acknowledged, especially after Ryanair announced last month it will cancel all flights from Maastricht starting October 26. The decision followed the airport’s move to significantly increase fees. This leaves Corendon as the only airline offering passenger flights from the Limburg airport.

Going forward, Meijs emphasized the airport’s focus will shift more toward cargo operations, where he has noted recent positive developments. Turkish Airlines returned earlier this year after a hiatus, and Emirates’ cargo division increased weekly flights from two to three.

Maastricht Aachen Airport is 60 percent owned by the province of Limburg, with the remaining shares held by the Schiphol Group. Shareholders have authorized the use of funds originally reserved for overdue maintenance to cover daily operations temporarily. The airport management stated, “This agreement provides sufficient financial room to fund operations in the coming year.”