European air travel is facing “further pressure” this winter as increasing fuel costs force airlines to cut capacity and put up prices, according to the latest update from airports association ACI Europe.
ACI Europe said that the summer peak travel season had seen a “rebound” in passenger numbers compared with earlier in the year when the outbreak of the Iran war disrupted travel, but warned that continued pricing pressure may put a strain on supply and demand in the next few months.
Passenger traffic at European airports rose by 3.9 per cent year-on-year in July and by 3.1 per cent in August. This was a marked improvement on growth of just 1.3 per cent in the second quarter following the start of the Middle East crisis.
Olivier Jankovec, director general of ACI Europe, said that European air travel demand “remains resilient despite continued geopolitical tensions, deteriorating macroeconomic conditions, supply constraints and higher airfares”.
But Jankovec added that the latest energy shock was “likely to put further pressure on both supply and demand” over the next few months.
“Airlines are already tightening capacity and increasing air fares to mitigate their rising jet fuel costs,” he said. “At the same time, the cost-of-living crisis re-emerging across Europe will test the resilience of demand.”
ACI Europe’s analysis of August demand shows “stark differences” across countries, with countries such as Slovakia (up by 61 per cent), Slovenia (+19.3 per cent), Estonia (+16.4 per cent), Hungary (+13 per cent) and Malta (+12.3 per cent) recording double-digit year-on-year increases in passenger numbers.
The worst performing markets in August included Iceland where traffic fell by 9.3 per cent year-on-year. There were also smaller declines in Austria (down 6 per cent) and Cyprus (-1.5 per cent).
Among the major European markets, Italy was the best performer with a 5.2 per cent year-on-year rise in passengers in August, followed by Spain with a 4.7 per cent increase, as Madrid and Barcelona airports stood out for their "dynamic increases”.
But the UK, France and Germany all underperformed the overall European market. UK airports recorded a 0.9 per cent year-on-year increase in passengers in August, while traffic at French airports declined by 1.7 per cent and Germany’s passenger numbers dropped by 0.2 per cent.
ACI Europe’s figures illustrated how Istanbul Airport has cemented its position as Europe’s busiest airport, ahead of London Heathrow. The Turkish hub saw passenger traffic rise by 3 per cent year-on-year to 8.6 million in August, while Heathrow’s passenger figures dropped by 2.1 per cent to 7.9 million for the month.
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport was the third busiest airport with 6.9 million passengers in August (down by 1.1 per cent compared with August 2025).
ACI Europe's report noted the “underperformance” of London Gatwick where traffic fell by 3.4 per cent year-on-year in August. Meanwhile, traffic at Amsterdam Schiphol, Frankfurt and Munich airports was “broadly flat” compared with August 2025.