Groningen Airport Eelde Explores Untapped Markets Across Europe

Our Route Opportunities feature explores the latest unserved and underserved routes promoted through Routes 360, providing supporting information for airline network planners to consider and capitalize on.

Serving as the international gateway for the Northern Netherlands, Groningen Airport Eelde (GRQ) provides access to a catchment of more than 3.8 million people within a 90-minute drive, extending into northwest Germany. As capacity constraints tighten at major Dutch airports, GRQ presents clear growth opportunities, supported by unrestricted slot availability and operational flexibility.

The airport’s 2025 schedule introduced two new routes: a Sunweb service to Heraklion in partnership with SKY Express, complementing Corendon’s peak summer capacity, and an exclusive connection from the Netherlands to Ireland West Airport Knock.

Looking ahead to 2026, the airport aims to expand its network across the leisure, business, and charter markets. With strong partnerships with tour operators, guaranteed seat allotments on select routes will help airlines minimize risks when launching new services to GRQ.

Copenhagen represents one of the largest unserved business markets from the region, having previously been served twice a day under a codeshare agreement with SAS Scandinavian Airlines. Despite the suspension of the route, demand remains evident, with significant passenger leakage to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

In a recent interview with GRQ at Routes Europe, Chief Commercial Officer Jonas van Dorp emphasized the importance of restoring a service to London, a key connection lost following the collapse of Flybe. Being the largest unserved market for both outbound and inbound traffic, the airport seeks year-round connectivity to London Southend Airport (STN).

GRQ also plans to serve historically strong leisure traffic, particularly across Spain and Portugal, with low direct competition.

Following a cooperation agreement with AMS in April 2024, GRQ is now able to share detailed data on regional passenger flows, including catchment leakage to AMS. Combined with unrestricted slot availability and available capacity, GRQ is positioning itself as a flexible alternative for airlines seeking growth opportunities in the northern Netherlands.

As a member of Routes 360, the only digital platform dedicated to route development, GRQ has uploaded multiple route opportunities to its profile.

Unserved:

• London Southend Airport (SEN)
• Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
• Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI)
• Barcelona – El Prat Airport (BCN)
• Malaga – Costa del Sol Airport (AGP)
• Tenerife South Airport (TFS)
• Faro Airport (FAO)
• Alicante Airport (ALC)
• Budapest Airport (BUD)
• Manchester Airport (MAN)
• Vienna Airport (VIE)
• Zurich Airport (ZRH)
• RIX Riga Airport (RIX)
• Krakow Airport (KRK)
• Dublin Airport (DUB)
• Prague Airport (PRG)
• Rome Airports (FCO – CIA)

Discover the latest available routes and identify new business opportunities.

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