EU Air Traffic Nears Pre-Pandemic Levels as Summer Travel Demand Remains Strong

13 October 2025

The number of commercial flights in the European Union rose again in September, edging closer to pre-pandemic volumes as travel demand remained resilient across the continent. According to the latest flight data released by Eurostat, airlines operated just under 653,100 commercial services during the month — slightly more than in the same period last year but still marginally below 2019 levels.

Flight activity was 2.6% higher than in September 2024, marking another step in the aviation sector’s recovery. Compared with the same month in 2019, the figure was 1.8% lower, continuing the gradual narrowing of the gap that has persisted through the summer.

From June to August, traffic also showed consistent year-on-year growth of around 3%, with August seeing flight numbers come within a fraction of their 2019 benchmark. The pattern suggests that, while the recovery has largely stabilised, overall flight volumes have yet to fully match those of the final summer before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Twelve EU countries have now surpassed their pre-pandemic flight activity. Cyprus, Poland, and Greece recorded the strongest gains, with each exceeding 2019 figures by more than 20%. The increase reflects robust tourism and expanding regional air networks in southern and eastern Europe.

At the same time, several northern countries continue to trail earlier levels. Latvia, Sweden, and Finland reported flight totals still between 24% and 30% below 2019, underscoring uneven recovery across the continent. Analysts attribute the gap partly to slower rebounds in business travel and changes in route structures following airline network adjustments.

Across the EU, the aviation sector has now reached roughly 98% of its 2019 traffic level, confirming that most of Europe’s skies have returned to near-normal density. Industry observers note that growth is expected to remain moderate into the winter months, with airlines focusing on cost management and route efficiency as demand steadies after the summer peak.

Eurostat’s data form part of ongoing monitoring of the European air transport market, offering insight into how passenger demand, economic trends, and airline capacity continue to shape post-pandemic recovery patterns.

Source: Eurostat

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