35,959 flights a day: Europe saw record summer air traffic despite Middle East war
The conflict has seen a large increase in flights to countries including Albania, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia as Europeans choose holiday destinations closer to home.
European air traffic reached unprecedented levels during the summer holiday period, with an average of 35,959 flights per day in July and August, marking a 2.4 percent increase from 2025, according to Eurocontrol data. The record-breaking day was on July 10, with 37,640 flights. Despite the overall rise in flights, 72.6 percent of them arrived on time, reflecting a 1.2 percentage point improvement compared to the previous year.
France faced the most significant challenges, with 32 percent of all delays attributed to air traffic control management issues. While the Middle East conflict influenced the tourism season, many Europeans chose to holiday within their own continent, perceiving it as a safer option. The conflict impacted traffic in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Türkiye, but led to a significant increase in air travel to countries like Albania, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia, with a continuous growth trend in southwest Europe.
Greece experienced record passenger numbers at its airports, straining its air traffic control system, particularly during peak season. Notably, fourteen countries recorded their highest-ever daily traffic for arrivals and departures, including Albania, Armenia, Georgia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Moldova, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, and Türkiye.
Major airlines and airline groups also saw record traffic, with Aegean, Air Serbia, easyJet, Jet2.com, Pegasus, Royal Air Maroc, Ryanair, Sky Express, SunExpress, Turkish Airlines, and Wizzair among them.
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