Zagreb Airport was bursting at the seams on Thursday, April 17, as it smashed its all-time record for passenger traffic — just in time for the Easter holiday rush.

A staggering 16,580 travellers passed through the terminals in just 24 hours, making it the airport’s busiest day ever, reports EX-YU Aviation. 

Ryanair ruled the runway, offering the most seats with 6,946 up for grabs, while Croatia Airlines wasn’t far behind with 6,396, and Lufthansa rounded out the top three with 1,268.

But when it came to take-offs and landings, it was Croatia’s national carrier leading the charge, operating 55 flights throughout the day. Ryanair clocked up 38, and Lufthansa managed 8.

Top destinations included sunny Dubrovnik, bustling Istanbul, and coastal favourite Split, all boasting the highest seat capacities on the day.

The airport saw its most chaotic hour between 2pm and 3pm, with eight departures and five arrivals crammed into a single 60-minute window.

This new record beats the previous one set on June 14, 2024, when 16,197 passengers were processed.

Looks like the Easter bunny had some serious competition at passport control this year!