Geopolitical instability, energy prices, and sector pressures weigh on European air transport
Passenger traffic at European airports recorded its first decline since the post-COVID-19 recovery period, according to data from ACI Europe (Airports Council International Europe), cited by Reuters.
In April 2026, total passenger traffic across the European airport network fell by 0.7% year-on-year, marking the first negative performance since the recovery began in 2021.
This development represents the first annual downturn since the post-pandemic period, when air traffic in Europe had started to gradually recover.
According to ACI Europe Director General Olivier Jankovec, the slowdown is attributed to factors such as geopolitical instability, the impact of energy prices, and broader pressures facing the aviation sector. Nevertheless, he remains cautiously optimistic, noting that demand for air travel generally remains strong. At the same time, adjustments to airline capacity remain limited, while concerns over potential shortages of jet fuel have eased.
This article first appeared, in Greek, in Hermes Airports' online newsletter Flight Mode. Click here to view it.
