European Air Traffic Now Exceeds Pre-Pandemic Levels

Air traffic across Europe has now exceeded the levels recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic, marking a significant milestone in the recovery of the aviation industry after years of disruption and highlighting renewed confidence among travelers and airlines alike.

Record Summer for European Skies

The summer of 2025 has seen European air travel not only recover but exceed its pre-pandemic vigor, according to the latest data from Eurocontrol. From early June through mid-September, the continent’s airports managed an average of 35,127 flights each day—a figure that outpaces both last year by 3.3% and the benchmark set in 2019 by a modest yet telling 1%. The upward trajectory was particularly evident on July 18, when traffic nearly broke historical records with 37,034 movements within just 24 hours.

Progress Tempered by Persistent Weaknesses

The renewed bustle in the skies comes despite a series of obstacles. Airspace closures resulting from the conflict in Ukraine and ongoing tensions in the Middle East have put additional strain on flight routes. Even so, operational fluidity improved this summer: air traffic control delays were trimmed by an impressive 26%, bringing the average down to just under four minutes per flight. On longer “en-route” segments, the decline approached 24%, suggesting passengers experienced noticeably smoother journeys than in years past.

Nevertheless, there are stubborn flaws beneath these encouraging headlines. The average delay remains stubbornly higher than Eurocontrol’s target for next year—0.9 minutes per flight—signaling that efficiency gains haven’t closed all performance gaps. This shortfall is particularly acute across certain areas of Southeast Europe—Albania, Turkey, and parts of the Balkans—where surging demand has driven traffic up over 5% compared to last year.

Disruptions and Financial Setbacks

Several factors explain this persistent turbulence:

• 1,422 cancellations linked to early July labor strikes;
• 3,713 flights delayed daily during peak disruption periods;
• An estimated loss of €120 million for affected airlines.

The French Bottleneck: A Growing Concern

Of particular note is the situation in France, which continues to cast a shadow over Europe’s efforts to streamline operations. According to Eurocontrol, chronic limitations—from understaffed air traffic control centers to repeated industrial actions—have become a critical vulnerability. When two minor unions staged strikes in early July, “en-route” delays surged more than 50% compared to last year, sending ripple effects throughout the sector.

In conclusion, while the momentum behind Europe’s aviation rebound appears robust and widespread, ongoing challenges—structural weaknesses and localized disruptions foremost among them—underscore just how much work lies ahead for policymakers and industry leaders hoping for lasting normalcy in European skies.