Europe's regional airports are confronting what industry leaders describe as an existential threat, driven by the surge in jet fuel prices following Iran's retaliatory actions in the Strait of Hormuz. The price of jet fuel peaked at over $1,800 (€1,535) per ton earlier this month, forcing airlines to raise fares and cut capacity on less profitable routes.
The Airports Council International of Europe (ACI Europe) warned this week that smaller airports are particularly vulnerable to the fallout. Their routes typically exhibit higher price sensitivity and lower profit margins, making them prime targets for airline capacity reductions. The recent decision by Lufthansa to shut down its regional subsidiary CityLine exemplifies this trend.
Uneven Recovery and Mounting Pressures
While larger European hubs have seen passenger traffic climb more than 16% above 2019 levels, regional airports remain stuck more than 30% below pre-pandemic figures, according to Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI Europe. “The current levels of jet fuel prices and the prospect of a new cost-of-living crisis mean that many regional airports across our continent are likely to face both a supply and demand shock,” he said. “For them, this is nothing short of an existential threat.”
Compounding these difficulties is the delayed rollout of the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES), which ACI Europe warns could create chaos at regional airports serving popular tourist destinations this summer. The system, designed to automate border checks for non-EU travellers, has faced repeated technical and political hurdles.
Financially, regional airports are already bleeding. User charges for airlines—including landing and parking fees—remain roughly 11% below pre-pandemic levels, resulting in an average loss of €2.64 per passenger. This fragile economic base leaves little room to absorb further shocks.
Strategic Role and Calls for Action
ACI Europe insists that regional airports are indispensable to the continent's connectivity and cohesion. “Considering that they are channeling 35% of Europe’s air connectivity, regional airports are clearly indispensable enablers of the EU’s Single Market, and essential for cohesion and regional development,” said Andrea Andorno, CEO of Torino Airport and Chair of the ACI Europe Regional Airports Forum. “An airport is truly what puts a community not just on the European but on the global map.”
The industry body is calling for the suspension of national aviation taxes to provide immediate relief for the aviation and tourism sectors, as well as consumers, throughout the energy crisis. They also urge safeguarding operating aid for regional airports serving up to one million passengers per year and accelerating aviation decarbonisation efforts.
The broader energy context remains tense. The World Bank has warned that the Iran conflict could trigger the sharpest energy price spike since 2022, while EU Climate Chief Hoekstra has urged an end to new fossil fuel drilling amid the crisis. For Europe's regional airports, the confluence of geopolitical instability, energy costs, and structural vulnerabilities poses a test of resilience that may reshape the continent's aviation map.
