Despite a summer marked by climbing jet fuel prices, commercial aviation across the European Union continued its upward trajectory. Eurostat data released this week shows that more than two million commercial flights operated within the bloc between June and August 2026, with each month outperforming its 2025 counterpart.
August saw 708,980 flights, a 2.3% increase over the same month last year and a 5.7% jump compared with August 2024. July was marginally busier, with 709,931 flights, while June recorded 662,480. Year-on-year growth stood at 2.1% for June and 2.8% for July.
Uneven growth across member states
The overall rise masks significant divergence among the EU's 27 members. While 19 countries reported more flights in August than a year earlier, eight saw declines. Slovakia led the pack with a striking 37% annual increase, followed by Malta (12.4%) and Estonia (8.3%). In absolute terms, Spain added the most flights—9,600 more than in August 2025—while Italy contributed an extra 8,128. Slovakia's percentage surge translated into 1,325 additional flights.
At the other end of the spectrum, Austria suffered the steepest drop at 4.7%, with Cyprus down 3% and Germany 2.4%. These declines suggest that while the European market as a whole is expanding, certain national markets are facing headwinds, possibly due to route restructuring or local economic pressures.
Fuel costs bite
The growth comes against a backdrop of rising operational costs. EUROCONTROL, the pan-European air traffic management organisation, reported that jet fuel prices in Europe climbed again in August after a brief dip in the spring. The average price reached $3.86 per gallon, a level 71% above that seen before the Middle East crisis, which has disrupted supply chains and heightened geopolitical tensions.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) had already forecast in June that European airlines' combined net profit would fall from an estimated $13 billion (€11.5 billion) in 2025 to $9.6 billion in 2026, citing fuel as a major pressure point. IATA noted that European carriers had hedged about 70% of their fuel needs before the current crisis, but warned that higher costs would eventually feed through as the continent's reliance on Gulf imports leaves it particularly exposed.
This fuel price pressure is part of a broader energy cost challenge across Europe. As Portugal's fuel surge illustrates, consumers and businesses alike are feeling the pinch at the pump. Meanwhile, governments are grappling with how to respond—Italy has extended fuel tax cuts to May, and SOCAR has capped fuel prices at its Italian stations after a takeover.
The aviation sector's resilience in the face of these cost pressures is notable, but it may not last indefinitely. As IATA's warning suggests, the full impact of higher fuel prices could hit airline balance sheets in the coming months, potentially leading to higher ticket prices or reduced capacity. For now, though, Europeans are flying more than ever, and the summer of 2026 has set a new benchmark for the continent's skies.
