Budget Airlines Are Taking Off in the Netherlands
Categories: Latest News,News from the Netherlands,Travel
Over the past two decades, there’s been an undeniable shift in how people travel to and from the Netherlands. Flying budget airlines in the Netherlands like Ryanair and EasyJet are no longer just cheap alternatives—they’re the go-to choice for a massive number of travelers.
Back in 2004, about 9.3 million passengers opted for these wallet-friendly airlines. Fast forward to 2024, and that number has skyrocketed to 27.8 million! To put it another way, budget carriers now account for two out of every five passengers, compared to just one in five 20 years ago. It’s safe to say they’ve completely transformed air travel.
Small Airports, Big Impact
One of the key reasons for this boom? Budget airlines love smaller airports. These hubs come with lower operating fees, allowing carriers to keep ticket prices down. For the Netherlands, this trend has turned regional airports—like Eindhoven, Rotterdam, Maastricht, and Groningen—into critical pieces of the puzzle.
Passenger numbers at these smaller airports have quadrupled since 2004. By 2024, a staggering 98% of travelers passing through these regional airports chose budget airlines. If you want cheap flights from Amsterdam to Barcelona Spain, chances are, it’s taking off from one of these sites.
Schiphol’s Still the Heavyweight
Even with the rise of regional airports, Schiphol remains the heavyweight champ. It’s the main hub for budget airline travelers, serving 18.6 million budget passengers in 2024. For comparison, the other four national airports combined welcomed 9.2 million budget travelers.
Where’s Everyone Going?
When it comes to destinations, budget airline passengers are clearly chasing the sun—or maybe just good food and great vibes. Spain was the top spot in 2024, snatching up 29% of all budget airline trips, followed by the United Kingdom and Italy. On the flip side, passengers on traditional airlines had a different focus, often heading to long-haul destinations like the United States or closer neighbors like Germany and the UK.
The Bigger Picture
The numbers tell the story: Flying budget airlines from the Netherlands isn’t just a trend. They’ve become a major player, completely reshaping how and where people fly. Whether you’re jetting off to a beach in Málaga, looking for cheap flights from Amsterdam to Barcelona Spain, or grabbing a quick weekend getaway in London, the rise of budget carriers has made travel more accessible—and that’s something worth celebrating.