More than 1.8 million passengers used Cologne-Bonn Airport for their journeys during this year’s summer holidays. The number of passengers thus exceeded the already high level of the previous year’s summer holidays by around five per cent. The busiest day was Sunday, 30 August: 43,400 passengers travelled via Cologne/Bonn on that day.

At the same time, this year’s summer holidays were marked by an important innovation: The modernised security checkpoint in Terminal 1, fully equipped with CT technology, came into operation just before the start of the holidays and was able to demonstrate its effectiveness during the regular holiday period (see AVIONEWS).

The new security checkpoint makes comprehensive use of the latest CT scanners, making the facility at Cologne/Bonn one of the most modern in Europe. As a result, travellers no longer need to remove electronic devices from their hand luggage and can carry up to two litres of liquid. At the same time, the entire security area has been redesigned and the route flow optimised. A specially designated ‘Kids’ Lane’ makes the security process easier for those travelling on holiday with children.

Travellers had a wide range of destinations to choose from this summer. Twenty-six airlines flew to 115 international destinations in 38 countries. Twelve new destinations were added compared with the previous year. Turkey and Spain were once again the most popular travel ones, followed by Greece and Italy. Among the routes, Antalya and Palma de Mallorca topped the list again this year. For city breaks, Istanbul, London and Barcelona, amongst others, were particularly popular.

Passenger numbers at Cologne/Bonn will remain high in the coming weeks. September and October are popular travel months for passengers who are not tied to the school holidays. The airport expects one million passengers in each of these two months. During the two-week autumn half-term holiday from mid-October, large numbers of families with children will once again be using the airport.