EUROCONTROL: European air traffic exceeds pre-pandemic levels in 2025

European aviation recorded solid growth in 2025, with traffic levels surpassing those seen before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to EUROCONTROL Data Snapshot #57.

A total of 11.12 million flights were operated across the European aviation network in 2025, representing a 4% increase compared with 2024 and exceeding 2019 traffic levels by around 16,800 flights. The recovery was underpinned by close cooperation between the EUROCONTROL Network Manager and operational stakeholders across the region.

On average, the network handled 30,474 flights per day, up from 29,207 the previous year. Traffic increased year on year across almost all of Europe’s busiest states, airline groups and airports.

Despite higher volumes, operational performance improved. Arrival punctuality reached 76.1%, an increase of 3.5 percentage points compared with 2024, even with significantly more flights in the system. In parallel, air traffic flow management (ATFM) delays fell by 17% per flight, averaging 2.4 minutes, largely due to fewer weather-related disruptions.

EUROCONTROL said the figures highlight a resilient and increasingly efficient European air traffic network, capable of absorbing growth while delivering improved punctuality and reduced delays.