Autumn Air Travel Sees Uptick as International Visitors Flock to Norway
September recorded a steady rise in air passenger numbers at Norway’s airports, signaling growth beyond the summer months. Avinor, which manages most of the airports across the country, announced that 4.9 million travelers passed through their facilities in September 2025. This figure is 2% higher than the same month last year, reflecting increased activity on both domestic and international routes.
The growth is driven by Norwegian residents eager to explore during the off-peak season, along with a boost in international travelers choosing Norway as their holiday destination. International flights stood out, with over two million passengers moving through Norwegian airports to and from foreign locations, registering a 3% rise compared to September 2024. Gaute Skallerud Riise, Avinor’s Vice President of Traffic Development, shared insights on regional trends. "The summer patterns have carried into autumn, which is becoming a tourism season in its own right. We see heightened interest from international markets, especially in airports like Bergen, where international passenger numbers climbed by 11%. Airports in Evenes and Tromsø also recorded increases of 11% and 6%, respectively."
Other major hubs showed more modest gains. Oslo Airport experienced a 1% increase, Stavanger matched that with 1%, while Trondheim saw no growth in passenger numbers for September. Skallerud Riise expressed concern about the slower performance at Oslo, which serves as Norway’s principal airport and air traffic hub. The trend could affect regional economies and the country’s overall connectivity.
Passenger Load Factors Reach Record Highs
A notable development this September was the record-setting load factor on flights. Airlines filled 74.5% of available seats, the highest for the month recorded by Avinor. Across the year, the average load factor has reached 74.7%, surpassing previous years’ records. This trend shows that the increase in traveler numbers is outpacing the growth in flight capacity.
Air traffic movements also rose slightly. September saw 66,578 commercial flight takeoffs and landings, marking a 1% increase compared to last year.
Drone Use Shows Responsible Growth
Alongside commercial air travel, Avinor reported more responsible drone activity. In September, 3,320 drone flight plans were registered in Ninox Drone, Avinor’s system for managing drone airspace. This figure is 15% higher than in September 2024. Mats Gjertsen, head of Avinor’s drone program, emphasized the importance of responsible drone operation. “The rise in registered drone plans promotes safe and visible flying. We encourage all drone operators to learn the regulations thoroughly,” he said.
So far in 2025, drone operators have filed 25,344 flight plans through Ninox, indicating growing awareness and compliance with safety protocols.
Avinor publishes regular traffic statistics on its website, providing detailed data on passenger numbers, flight movements, and drone registrations.
The steady rise in autumn air travel highlights Norway’s appeal to both locals and international tourists as the travel landscape diversifies beyond the summer season. Airports in key regions benefit from rising international visitor numbers even as challenges persist at the main air traffic centre in Oslo.
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