Milano Cortina Winter Olympics Set To Drive Surge In Passenger Traffic At Milan Airports

Thousands of athletes and spectators are set to arrive in northern Italy for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, driving a significant increase in passenger traffic through Milan’s main airports.

From February 4 to February 22, more than 3,500 athletes from 93 countries will compete across 16 Olympic disciplines, accompanied by a large influx of international visitors traveling by air.

Flight ticketing data from Direct Data Solutions indicates a sharp year-on-year rise in passenger volumes at Milan’s two primary airports compared with February 2025, with long-haul markets leading the growth.

Arrivals from Canada have increased more than 300%, followed by the United States at 141% and China at 129%. European markets are also contributing to the surge, with strong gains from the Netherlands at 142%, Finland at 94%, and the United Kingdom at 42%.

Booking trends show that many travelers secured flights well in advance. About 23% purchased tickets more than six months before departure, while 19% booked four to six months ahead. The largest share, 40%, finalized travel plans two to four months before departure.

The data highlights how major global sporting events generate measurable increases in passenger demand months before the opening ceremony.