A special milestone at the end of the year: shortly before the turn of the year, Nuremberg Airport welcomed its 4.5 millionth passenger, Petra Beer with Waldemar Strzelczyk – a new record in the airport's 70-year history. This exceeded the previous record set in 2018. Passenger numbers at Nuremberg Airport grew by 12 per cent compared to the previous year. By way of comparison, the German average growth rate up to and including November 2025 was around 3.5 per cent.
The milestone guests were surprised during check-in for Corendon Airlines flight XR563 to Gran Canaria on 31 December 2025 and received a special gift: a voucher for 4.5 years of free use of the Dürer Lounge. Petra Beer and Waldemar Strzelczyk, who live near Erlangen, are celebrating New Year's Eve in the warmer climate of the Canary Islands.
‘We are very proud of this success,’ says Dr Michael Hupe. ‘The high demand and our double-digit growth show that we are on the right track with our strategy. In particular, our sales activities with tourist and low-cost airlines have helped to improve the range of flights available to residents of the metropolitan region and further strengthen incoming tourism to the region.’
The managing director is optimistic about the future for 2026: ‘The forecasts indicate that traffic will continue to develop positively. In addition to capacity expansion on many existing routes, new destinations such as Rabat and Bodrum will be added to the flight schedule,’ says Dr Hupe.
The fact that the 4.5 millionth passenger was travelling on board a Corendon aircraft is in line with the airline's development at Nuremberg airport. Corendon has been flying regularly to Nuremberg since 2005 and has operated a base there since 2019. The airline is therefore an important part of the region's tourism offering. In view of the strong passenger numbers, Corendon is continuing its expansion: from May 2026, the airline will base a second aircraft in Nuremberg, offering up to 14 holiday destinations.
