Passenger traffic: Brașov Airport vs Sibiu Airport

The comparison between Brașov Airport and Sibiu Airport is one of the most interesting among Romania’s regional airports, precisely because it places two very different development stages side by side. Sibiu is a mature airport, with strong traffic and an already established base. Brașov, by contrast, is still building its position in the market. That is why this comparison should not be read only through the lens of absolute traffic levels, but even more through the direction in which the two airports are moving.

In 2025, Sibiu clearly starts from a higher level. In January it records 34,312 passengers, compared with 20,877 for Brașov. In February, Sibiu posts 33,385 while Brașov records 16,165. In March, the gap remains large: 37,423 in Sibiu versus 19,855 in Brașov. In April, Sibiu rises to 45,152 while Brașov reaches 18,368. In May, Sibiu has 49,863 and Brașov 20,849. Throughout the first part of the year, Sibiu’s advantage is clear and consistent.

Summer widens this gap even further. In June 2025, Sibiu reaches 60,099 passengers while Brașov records 32,239. In July, Sibiu climbs to 68,447 while Brașov reaches 34,390. In August, Sibiu hits 100,833 passengers, while Brașov stands at 36,354. The August difference is 64,479 passengers, which means an advantage of approximately 177.4% for Sibiu. It is the month that most clearly shows how strong Sibiu’s position still is.

And yet, this is exactly where Brașov’s real story begins. Even though it starts from a much lower base, the airport is growing at a strong pace. From 20,877 passengers in January 2025, Brașov reaches 51,420 in December 2025. That means an increase of 30,543 passengers in a single year, or approximately 146.3%. Such a trajectory is not typical for an already stabilized airport. It is typical of an airport that is rising, finding its place, and beginning to gain real traction in the market.

At the same time, Sibiu does not show the same acceleration. After its August peak, traffic begins to decline: 84,811 in September, 71,712 in October, 52,283 in November, and 34,312 in December. Brașov, by contrast, rises to 31,887 in September, 31,794 in October, 36,301 in November, and then surges to 51,420 in December. This is the key turning point of the comparison: in December 2025, Brașov surpasses Sibiu by 17,108 passengers. In percentage terms, Brașov handled approximately 49.9% more traffic than Sibiu in that month.

January 2026 shows that Sibiu remains strong, with 47,969 passengers, while Brașov records 33,598. The gap is 14,371 passengers, or approximately 42.8% in Sibiu’s favor. Even so, the relationship is much tighter than in the opening months of 2025, which confirms the main point: Brașov does not yet dominate this comparison at the structural level, but it is reducing the gap and beginning to emerge as a real competitor.

The forecast for Brașov supports this interpretation. The 2026 projection suggests continued growth, with a new peak expected in the second half of the year and sustained high levels through autumn and winter. Brașov no longer looks like an airport that had just one strong moment. It looks like an airport that is climbing gradually, strengthening its base, and beginning to turn growth into normality.

That is why the comparison with Sibiu must be read correctly. Sibiu is still the larger and more mature airport. But Brașov is the airport sending the strongest signal of transformation. If Sibiu represents stability, Brașov represents recovery and ascent. Like a Phoenix, it does not start from the top — it rises gradually, with every strong month, every threshold crossed, and every portion of the gap recovered.

Brașov is not yet above Sibiu at a structural level, but the direction is clear: it is rising steadily, reducing the gap, and beginning to look like a regional airport that can no longer be ignored.