EU commercial flights rise during summer 2026 despite higher fuel costs

Commercial flight numbers in the European Union increased during the summer of 2026, despite rising aviation fuel prices. According to Eurostat, over 2 million commercial flights were conducted across the EU between June and August.

In August, 708,980 flights were recorded, representing a 2.3% increase compared to August 2025 and a 5.7% increase from August 2024. The summer months showed consistent growth, with June and July also exceeding the same periods from the previous year.

Growth across the EU was uneven. While 19 member states saw an increase in flights, eight experienced a decline. Slovakia recorded the highest annual growth at 37%, followed by Malta and Estonia. Spain saw the largest absolute increase, adding 9,600 flights compared to August 2025, while Italy added 8,128. Conversely, Austria saw the sharpest decline at 4.7%, with decreases also noted in Cyprus and Germany.

EUROCONTROL reported that European aviation fuel prices rose again in August following a decline in the spring. This price volatility comes amid projections from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) regarding potential decreases in net profits for European airlines.