As we navigate through 2026, the aviation landscape in Norway’s capital has seen a remarkable transformation. For travelers asking how many people actually fly to Oslo, the answer lies in a story of consolidation, recovery, and record-breaking numbers. While the city was once served by three distinct hubs, the post-COVID era has seen a massive shift in how passengers reach the Norwegian heartland.
Oslo Airport, Gardermoen (OSL)
Gardermoen remains the undisputed king of Norwegian aviation. As the primary international gateway, it has seen a robust recovery. In 2024, passenger numbers surged back to pre-pandemic levels, and 2025 marked the first year that Gardermoen officially surpassed its 2019 “golden year” peak. The airport now serves as a high-tech model for efficiency, featuring expanded piers and automated baggage systems to handle the new influx of global travelers.
- IATA Code: OSL
- 2025 Passenger Traffic: Approximately 29.5 million passengers.
- Comparison: This represents a 5% increase over the pre-COVID record of 28.5 million in 2019.
- Distance to Oslo: 47 km (approx. 20 minutes by Flytoget or 40-50 minutes by car).
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Sandefjord Airport, Torp (TRF)
Often marketed as “Oslo Sandefjord,” Torp is located significantly further from the capital but remains a vital alternative for low-cost carriers like Ryanair and Wizz Air. While Gardermoen focuses on flag carriers and long-haul routes, Torp has carved out a niche for European point-to-point travel. Traffic in 2024 and 2025 has remained stable, though it faces stiff competition from the increased low-cost presence at the main hub in Gardermoen.
- IATA Code: TRF
- Annual Passengers: Approximately 1.9 million.
- Main Airlines: Ryanair, Wizz Air, and Norwegian.
- Distance to Oslo: 120 km (approx. 1 hour 30 minutes by car or bus).
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Moss Airport, Rygge (RYG)
Rygge remains a point of nostalgia and frequent questions for many travelers. Once a bustling hub for Ryanair, the airport closed to civilian traffic in 2016. Despite various local initiatives to reopen the airport for commercial flights in 2024 and 2025, it remains closed to scheduled airline traffic as of 2026. Travelers looking for flights to “Oslo Rygge” are now redirected almost exclusively to Gardermoen or Torp.
The Data: Growth vs. Decline and the COVID Comparison
Is Oslo’s air traffic growing or declining? The numbers point toward a strong, centralized growth. While the total number of physical airports serving the region has declined since the 2010s (due to Rygge’s closure), the total volume of passengers has increased. In 2025, over 31 million people flew into the Oslo region, a figure that is significantly higher than the 2021-2022 recovery period and even beats the 2019 pre-pandemic stats.
Compared to the “pre-COVID” era, the travel experience in Oslo has become more expensive but also more digitalized. Tourists have returned in record numbers, particularly from the US, Germany, and the UK, drawn by Norway’s nature and the weakening of the Norwegian Krone (NOK), which has made the once-expensive city more accessible to foreign visitors.
In summary, Oslo’s aviation sector has not only recovered but has entered a new phase of expansion. If you are planning a trip, we highly recommend booking your transport in advance, as the high volume of passengers at Gardermoen can lead to significant wait times for taxis during peak hours. For official Norwegian aviation statistics and trends, you can visit the Official Avinor Statistics Page.
