EU commercial flights rise despite higher jet fuel prices

The number of commercial flights across the EU increased in every summer month compared with last year, although traffic fell in several member states.

More than two million commercial flights took place across the EU between June and August 2026 even as European jet fuel prices rose during the final month of the summer

August recorded 708,980 flights, 2.3% more than in August 2025 and 5.7% more than in August 2024. July was slightly busier, with 709,931 flights, while June recorded 662,480.

All three months were busier than the same periods last year. Flights rose by 2.1% year on year in June and 2.8% in July

Growth varied across the EU

The increase in August was not shared by every member state, however.

Commercial flight numbers rose in 19 EU countries compared with a year earlier, but fell in eight.

Slovakia recorded the largest annual increase, at 37%, followed by Malta at 12.4% and Estonia at 8.3%.

Spain added the most flights in absolute terms: 9,600 more than in August 2025. Italy recorded 8,128 more, while Slovakia’s 37% rise amounted to 1,325 additional flights.

Austria saw the steepest decline, at 4.7%. Flights were also down by 3% in Cyprus and 2.4% in Germany.

Jet fuel prices rise

This rise comes during a costly year for airlines. EUROCONTROL, the pan-European organisation that helps manage and coordinate air traffic, says European jet fuel prices climbed again in August after falling in the spring.

In a June forecast, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) expected European airlines’ combined net profit to fall from an estimated $13 billion (€11.5 billion) in 2025 to $9.6 billion in 2026, citing fuel costs as a significant pressure.

EUROCONTROL put the European average jet fuel price in August at $3.86 per gallon, 71% above its level before the Middle East crisis, attributing the renewed rise to geopolitical tensions and pressure on fuel supplies.

IATA estimated that European airlines had hedged about 70% of their fuel needs before the current crisis, but warned that higher costs would eventually feed through as Europe faces significant fuel cost pressure partly due to its reliance on imports from the Gulf.

Source: www.euronews.com