Dortmund Airport's 2025 losses soar to €6.3M amid airline exits and rising costs
Dortmund Airport faced a challenging year in 2025, with financial losses deepening significantly. The annual deficit climbed to €6.3 million, up from €1.8 million the previous year. Rising costs and shifting airline operations played a major role in the downturn. The airport's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) dropped to roughly €971,000. Revenue for the year stood at €49.81 million, yet higher expenses pushed the deficit to its highest level in recent years. Personnel costs rose sharply due to public sector wage increases and a new collective bargaining agreement.
Passenger numbers also saw dramatic changes. After Ryanair's complete withdrawal in 2024, the airport lost 430,000 travellers linked to the airline. Overall passenger figures fell from around 2.5 million in 2023 to 1.2 million by mid-2025, though some growth later offset part of the decline. By year-end, total passengers reached 3.24 million. Eurowings reduced its services, affecting another 130,000 travellers, but new routes helped soften the impact. The airport's competitiveness weakened compared to nearby hubs. Düsseldorf handled about 23 million passengers in 2025, while Köln/Bonn served roughly 11 million. Even Münster/Osnabrück, with around 1.1 million, closed the gap on Dortmund. The final audited figures for the year are expected in June.
The 2025 results highlight the financial strain on Dortmund Airport, driven by higher wages and airline pullbacks. With passenger numbers still below past levels, the coming months will clarify how the airport plans to stabilise its operations. The full financial report, due in June, will provide further details on its path forward.
