Passenger traffic and revenue growth marked Pula Airport’s operations in 2025, while the business focus remains on strengthening international connectivity and extending the tourist season.
During 2025, Pula Airport continued its positive trend of recovery and development, achieving an 8.8 percent growth in passenger traffic compared to the previous year, alongside an increase in total revenue and the continuation of activities aimed at developing airline routes and improving infrastructure, safety, and sustainability.
In 2025, 554,247 passengers passed through the airport, representing an increase of nearly 45,000 passengers compared to 2024. At the same time, total revenue rose to 9.32 million euros, an increase of almost 10 percent compared to the previous year, while sales revenue grew by more than 12 percent. Total expenditures during 2025 amounted to 10.42 million euros, and the business year concluded with a negative financial result of 1.1 million euros. This outcome is a consequence of increased operating costs present across the entire European aviation sector, continued investments in business development, and the fact that traffic at Pula Airport is still gradually recovering compared to the record year of 2019.
Traffic growth was achieved during a period in which European aviation continues to adapt to changed market circumstances. According to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global demand for air travel reached record levels in 2025, while Croatian airports, according to data from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, recorded an average passenger traffic growth of 6.8 percent. Pula Airport’s growth of 8.8 percent was thus above the national average.
At the same time, Pula Airport’s operations continue to be affected by the specific circumstances of the regional market. Passenger traffic in 2025 reached around 71 percent of the levels from the record year 2019, primarily due to the consequences of the pandemic and the loss of a portion of the market following the start of the war in Ukraine, when Pula Airport lost a significant share of its planned capacities toward Eastern European markets. However, it is important to emphasize that the share of arrivals to the region via Pula Airport has been continuously increasing since 2020 (8.38% in 2019; 2.17% in 2020; 4.19% in 2023; 5.04% in 2024; 5.33% in 2025).
Over the past year, cooperation with existing airlines was further developed, and activities aimed at opening new routes, increasing flight frequencies, and extending operations into the pre-season and post-season continued. Indeed, extending the tourist season is one of the key development priorities, given that high-quality air connectivity represents an important prerequisite for the further development of tourism and the economy of Istria and Croatia.
On the occasion of publishing the results, Nina Vojnić Žagar, Director of Pula Airport, emphasized: “The results achieved in 2025 confirm that Pula Airport is continuing its gradual recovery and development in highly demanding market circumstances. The growth in passenger numbers and revenue shows that activities aimed at strengthening international connectivity and cooperation with partners are yielding results, while we are simultaneously aware that the further development of international connectivity is a long-term process that requires continuous work and cooperation from all partners. Our priority is to continue developing the network of air routes, extending the season, and creating prerequisites for the long-term sustainable development of the Airport, in the interest of Istria, all its citizens, and its economy.”
Aware of its role, Pula Airport continues to develop its business while improving relationships with the tourism sector, local and regional government units, the Croatian National Tourist Board, the Istria County Tourist Board, and other stakeholders, with the aim of jointly strengthening the destination’s international accessibility and achieving common goals.
Special emphasis during 2025 was placed on investments in safety and the modernization of operational infrastructure. In cooperation with the Ministry, funds amounting to 490,000 euros were secured for the procurement of a tractor and mowing equipment, an X-ray device for cargo inspection, and floodlights for apron lighting. These investments contribute to increasing the safety, efficiency, and quality of Pula Airport’s operational work.
Today, regional airports play a much broader role than just serving as transport infrastructure. They represent an important factor in economic development, the competitiveness of tourist destinations, and the international connectivity of the region. In this context, Pula Airport continues to carry out activities focused on long-term sustainable growth, the development of new routes and markets, and creating the prerequisites for an even stronger connection between Istria and European and global destinations, remaining a key driver for the further development of Istria and this part of the region, as well as a crucial component of overall Croatian tourism and the economy.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS IN 2025:
- 554,247 passengers (+8.8% compared to 2024)
- 9.32 million euros in total revenue (+10%)
- 8.61 million euros in sales revenue (+12.2%)
- 68.7% of revenue generated in the international market
- Business result: -1.1 million euros
- 8,038 aircraft operations
- Traffic reached 71% of the 2019 level
- Passenger traffic growth above the Croatian average (8.8% vs. 6.8%)
- Continued activities to develop new routes and extend the season (extending existing routes into the pre-season and post-season and increasing their frequencies, as well as intensifying negotiations with carriers that have the capacity to open new routes in the future period).