European Air Traffic Expands in 2025 — Non-EU Countries Lead the Growth

Passenger traffic across the European airport network rose by 3.6% in September 2025, according to ACI Europe. The fastest growth came from non-EU countries, where performance significantly outpaced that of EU member states. International routes continue to recover faster than domestic flights, providing steady momentum for the continent’s aviation sector.

ACI Europe’s Director General Olivier Jankovec noted that September confirmed the resilience of passenger demand, consolidating the strong summer trend. Positive growth persists despite a sluggish macroeconomic climate, as inflation pressures ease and unemployment declines. However, differences between countries remain notable, driven by structural changes in aviation, market maturity levels, intensifying airport competition, and differing fiscal and economic policies — particularly in France and Germany.

Recovery Rates by Country

International air travel across the European network grew by 4.3%, compared to just 1% for domestic routes. Over the third quarter, including the peak summer season, passenger traffic increased by 3.9% — slightly below the first half of 2025 but still showing stable performance.

The strongest results came from non-EU countries, with passenger volumes up 8.3%. The top performers were Moldova (+45.5%), Israel (+32.2%), and Bosnia and Herzegovina (+18%). Other high-growth markets included Georgia (+15.6%), Uzbekistan (+15%), Montenegro (+10.9%), and Turkey (+10.6%).



Within the EU, EEA, Switzerland, and the UK, passenger growth was more moderate at 2.7%. The top performers were Slovakia (+14.7%), Poland (+13.2%), Slovenia (+13.1%), Romania (+11.1%), and Malta (+10.5%). Among major economies, Germany (+3.2%) led the group, while Spain (+2.5%) and Italy (+1.7%) saw slower gains. Declines were recorded in Estonia (-5.8%), Latvia (-5.1%), Iceland (-4.9%), France (-1%), and the UK (-0.3%).

Cargo volumes grew by 4.3% compared with September 2024 and now stand 17.6% above pre-pandemic levels. The top performers among major freight hubs were Liège (+14.3%), Madrid (+9.4%), and Cologne (+2.6%). Overall flight movements increased by 2.5%.

Airport Performance by Category

Airports handling over 40 million passengers grew traffic by 2.8%. The top performer was Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (+28.1%), followed by Munich (+6.7%), Istanbul Airport (+5%), Barcelona (+4.3%), and Rome Fiumicino (+2.4%). Paris Charles de Gaulle was the only major hub to record a decline (–1.3%).

Airports in the 25–40 million passenger range grew by 3%, led by Copenhagen (+9.5%), Athens (+5.5%), and Milan Malpensa (+4.7%). Antalya (+4.2%) and Dublin (+3.7%) also showed stable results.

Airports serving 10–25 million passengers saw a 4.6% increase, with top growth in Tel Aviv (+32.2%), Ankara (+18.5%), Izmir (+18%), Krakow (+16.8%), and Warsaw (+12.3%). In the 1–10 million segment, traffic rose 3.6%, led by Chișinău (+45.5%), Wroclaw (+25.1%), Tivat (+24.2%), Bournemouth (+21.5%), and Trieste (+20%).

Smaller airports with under 1 million passengers posted growth of 7.8%. The most dramatic increases were in Antwerp (+2209.5%), Hatay (+158.6%), Bucharest Băneasa (+136.7%), Ordu–Giresun (+128.4%), and Agra (+103.1%). Despite progress, the small-airport segment remains 21.7% below 2019 levels.

Forecasts: Moderate Growth Amid New Risks

ACI Europe forecasts passenger growth of 3.6% in 2025, compared to 2024, with total traffic expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels by 3.9%. For 2026, growth is projected at 3.5%, reaching 7.6% above 2019. By 2027, the increase could hit 11.1%, and by 2028 — 14.6% above pre-COVID volumes.

The ICAO State of Global Aviation Safety 2025 report notes that climate change is becoming a major factor influencing European air travel. Extreme weather events are increasingly disrupting flight schedules, leading to more delays and operational adjustments. Technical failures, medical emergencies, and unruly passenger incidents have also caused a rise in emergency landings. In Portugal alone, 27 such incidents were recorded between January 2023 and October 2025.



Experts warn that global aviation is entering a period of higher operational risk. Multiple factors — from extreme weather to technology disruptions — increasingly overlap. One growing threat is the manipulation of GPS signals, where false coordinates disrupt aircraft navigation. Such cases have been reported worldwide, including a recent incident in India, where several planes experienced a navigational shift of thousands of kilometers during flight delays in Delhi. Experts caution that even limited interference can cause cascading disruptions at major hubs, leading to airspace congestion and serious safety risks for global aviation.