For the first time since the recovery of air transport in Europe after the Covid-19 pandemic, passenger traffic declined on an annual basis. According to the European airport trade association ACI EUROPE, the number of passengers traveling through the European airport network decreased by 0.7% in April 2026 compared to the same month last year. The organization states that although the decline is marginal, it "marks an important turning point." Why are fewer people flying in Europe? ACI EUROPE says the April figures reflect a combination of factors including conflicts in the Middle East, the shifting of part of this year's Easter holiday to March, and strikes that seriously affected the German market. However, some airports continue to grow. The best performances in the AB+ region came from airports in Slovakia (+125.2), Slovenia (+14.6), Estonia (+12.1), Malta (+13.5), and Poland (+8.3). Among the largest markets in the AB+ region, the best results came from Spain (+3.7%) and Italy (+2.2%). In contrast, passenger numbers declined at airports in Germany (-8.5%), the United Kingdom (-2.1%), and France (-0.9%). The sharpest declines were recorded in Cyprus (-16.1%) and Iceland (-11.7%), followed by Austria (-7.4%) and Switzerland (-6.1%). The largest and smallest European airports were most affected Overall, "large" airports, which provide most of Europe's connectivity with the region (-3.5%), along with "mega" (-1%) and "large-scale" airports (+0.1% increase), were the segments most affected by conflicts in the Middle East. Among the large airports, the only ones to record an increase in passenger traffic in April were Barcelona (+4.1%), Madrid (+3.3%), and Amsterdam-Schiphol (+2.7%). Munich (-16.4%) and Frankfurt (-11%) experienced the sharpest declines due to strikes lasting a full seven days during the month. Istanbul Airport (-6.8%) and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (-3.4%), usually among the best-performing airports, also contracted in April; passenger numbers also declined at London Gatwick (-8.8%) and London Heathrow (-5.34%). In contrast, Rome-Fiumicino (-0.6%) and Paris-CDG (0.0%) remained almost stable. Conversely, "medium-sized" (+2.1% increase) and "small" (+5.5% increase) airports, whose route networks mainly consist of intra-European flights, appeared largely protected thanks to low-cost carriers not cutting capacity and some demand shifting from long-haul to medium/short-haul flights. Small airports continue to perform the worst compared to pre-pandemic (2019) levels with a -27.7% decline; this reflects structural changes in market conditions and serious financial sustainability issues. EES system still an "urgent concern" According to ACI EUROPE Director General Olivier Jankovec, April marks a clear breaking point for European air traffic. "After the strong post-pandemic surge, we were already seeing growth in passenger traffic normalizing; however, geopolitical instability, primarily the war in the Middle East, is now creating additional pressure on growth and revealing significant performance differences among markets," he says. "The positive aspect is that demand remains generally strong, airlines have limited capacity adjustments, and concerns about potential jet fuel shortages have eased." However, according to Jankovec, the most urgent issue remains the "severe disruptions caused by border control processes linked to the Schengen Entry/Exit System and the difficulties these cause passengers." "Unless authorities are granted more flexibility, including the complete suspension of the system where operationally necessary, disruptions for passengers will increase in the coming weeks and months," he warns.
