Passenger figures for December show a significant increase across Avinor’s airports, driven in particular by strong growth in international travel.
In December, passenger numbers were up 3.8 per cent compared with the same month the previous year.
International traffic increased by 5.2 per cent, while domestic traffic grew by 2.6 per cent.
Commercial aircraft movements (take-offs and landings) increased by 7 per cent in December compared with December 2024, and by 2 per cent in 2025 compared with 2024.
Interest in Norway as a winter destination is clearly on the rise, and both airlines and international tour operators have truly discovered Norway’s winter products.
At the same time, there are indications that Norwegians also travelled extensively in December.
Gaute Skallerud Riise, Director of Traffic Development at Avinor, says: “We are seeing a marked increase in international traffic in December, confirming that interest in Norway as a winter destination is stronger than ever.
“It is very encouraging that both travellers and international stakeholders are discovering the unique winter experiences our country has to offer.”
Airports in Northern Norway recorded particularly strong figures in December:
- Tromsø Airport saw total passenger growth of 13 per cent, including a remarkable 21 per cent increase in international passengers. This made Tromsø Airport the country’s third-largest airport in December, surpassed only by Oslo and Bergen airports.
- Bodø Airport recorded growth of 10 per cent.
- Evenes Airport grew by 12 per cent.
“Airports in Northern Norway have delivered an exceptionally strong year. Tromsø is now establishing itself as one of our largest and most dynamic airports during the winter season, and the growth in Bodø and Evenes demonstrates the region’s strong position at a time of intense competition for international attention,” Riise says.
Over 53 million passengers in 2025
“In 2025, we launched 22 completely new routes and welcomed two new airlines to the market. This demonstrates Norway’s strong international position, with several attractive destinations. At the same time, we see that international traffic at Oslo Airport is growing significantly more slowly than at other Scandinavian hub airports. This highlights the need to strengthen Norway’s competitiveness and accessibility going forward.”
Increase in drone operations
In December, a total of 1,354 drone operations were recorded, representing an increase of 28 per cent compared with December the previous year, says Nikola Tufekcic, Head of Unmanned Aviation at Avinor.
Throughout 2025, there were 31,632 drone flights in total, an increase of 30 per cent compared with 2024.
“We are pleased to see that more and more people are choosing to fly drones legally,” Tufekcic concludes.
Passenger numbers still below 2019 levels
Total passenger traffic across Avinor’s airports in 2025 is estimated at approximately 53 million passengers, an increase of 3 per cent compared with 2024. However, passenger numbers have not yet returned to 2019 levels, when 54 million passengers travelled through Avinor’s airports.
