ACI Europe reports 0.7% fall in April passenger traffic, ending four years of continuous recovery growth; Middle East conflict, strikes and border control concerns emerge as key headwinds
European airports experienced their first year-on-year decline in passenger traffic since the aviation industry’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2021, according to the latest figures released by Airports Council International (ACI) Europe. Passenger volumes across the continent fell by 0.7% in April 2026, reflecting the combined impact of geopolitical instability, industrial action, operational bottlenecks and shifting travel patterns. While demand for air travel remains broadly resilient, significant disparities are emerging between regions and markets, raising fresh concerns for airports, airlines and tourism stakeholders across Europe.
European Aviation Recovery Faces First Major Setback Since 2021
After four years of steady recovery and growth, Europe’s airport sector encountered a significant turning point in April 2026, as passenger traffic across the continent declined by 0.7% compared with the same period last year.
According to ACI Europe, the downturn marks the first year-on-year contraction in passenger volumes since April 2021, when aviation began its gradual rebound from the unprecedented disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The latest traffic data highlights the growing influence of external pressures on the aviation sector, including geopolitical conflicts, labour disputes, economic uncertainty and operational constraints affecting passenger flows across several key markets.
While airports within the European Union managed to post modest growth of 0.6%, non-EU markets experienced a sharp decline of 7.6%, significantly dragging down overall performance.
Middle East Conflict Impacts Key Aviation Corridors
One of the most significant factors contributing to the slowdown was the escalating geopolitical instability in the Middle East, which has disrupted traffic flows and affected airports with strong connectivity to the region.
Israel recorded the most severe impact, with airport passenger traffic collapsing by 73.4% compared with the previous year. The dramatic decline reflects ongoing regional tensions and reduced international travel demand linked to security concerns.
Other countries closely connected to Middle Eastern traffic flows also experienced substantial declines. Airports in Türkiye reported a 5.1% drop in passenger numbers, while Georgia and Azerbaijan registered declines of 16.3% and 12.9% respectively.
The data illustrates how geopolitical developments continue to influence global aviation demand patterns and expose vulnerabilities in markets heavily dependent on specific international corridors.
Germany, UK and France Experience Passenger Declines
Among Europe’s largest aviation markets, Germany faced the most significant setback due to widespread industrial action.
German airports recorded an overall passenger decline of 8.5% in April, with major hubs particularly affected by strikes that disrupted operations for several days.
Frankfurt Airport, one of Europe’s busiest gateways, saw passenger traffic decline by 11%, while Munich Airport experienced an even sharper reduction of 16.4%.
The United Kingdom and France also recorded negative growth, with passenger traffic falling by 2.1% and 0.9% respectively.
In contrast, Southern European markets continued to demonstrate resilience.
Spain’s airports posted a healthy increase of 3.7%, while Italy recorded growth of 2.2%, benefiting from strong leisure travel demand and continued recovery in international tourism.
Major Hubs Show Mixed Performance
Among Europe’s leading airport hubs, only a handful managed to record positive growth during April.
Barcelona Airport emerged as one of the strongest performers, registering passenger growth of 4.1% year-on-year. Madrid Airport followed with a 3.3% increase, while Amsterdam Schiphol reported growth of 2.7%.
These airports benefited from strong intra-European traffic, leisure travel demand and relatively stable airline capacity deployment.
However, larger hubs dependent on long-haul international traffic faced greater challenges as airlines adjusted capacity and demand softened on selected intercontinental routes.
The performance gap between major hubs and secondary airports underscores the increasingly fragmented nature of Europe’s aviation recovery.
Smaller Airports Continue to Outperform
While Europe’s largest gateways faced headwinds, medium-sized and regional airports continued to benefit from robust demand for short-haul travel and low-cost carrier operations.
Medium-sized airports recorded passenger growth of 2.1% during April, while smaller airports achieved an impressive 5.5% increase.
Several emerging aviation markets posted particularly strong results.
North Macedonia led the continent with passenger growth of 30.6%, followed by Albania at 25.3% and Moldova at 24.6%.
Among medium-sized airports, Bratislava achieved the highest growth rate at 144.7%, reflecting rapid route expansion and increased airline activity. Skopje Airport reported growth of 31.1%, while Chișinău Airport recorded a 24.6% increase.
These figures demonstrate the growing importance of regional airports in supporting tourism, business travel and economic development across Europe.
Schengen Entry/Exit System Raises Industry Concerns
Beyond geopolitical and economic challenges, ACI Europe has also highlighted mounting concerns surrounding the implementation of the European Union’s Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES).
According to the organisation, airports and airlines are facing increasing operational pressure due to lengthy passenger processing times and limited flexibility in applying the new border management procedures.
Industry stakeholders warn that inadequate operational adaptability could result in longer queues, increased delays and a deterioration in passenger experience, particularly during the busy summer travel season.
The issue has become one of the aviation sector’s most pressing concerns as airports prepare for peak travel demand in the coming months.
Cargo and Aircraft Movements Also Weaken
The slowdown was not limited to passenger traffic.
European airport cargo volumes declined by 5.3% during April, reflecting broader uncertainty in international trade and logistics markets.
Aircraft movements also fell marginally by 0.8%, indicating cautious capacity management by airlines amid evolving market conditions.
The decline in cargo activity is particularly significant for airports that rely heavily on freight operations and international trade flows, adding another layer of complexity to the industry’s outlook.
Industry Calls for Policy Flexibility
Commenting on the latest figures, Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI Europe, described April as a pivotal moment for European aviation.
“April marks a clear inflection point for European air traffic. While we were already seeing a normalisation of passenger traffic growth after the strong post-pandemic bounce back, geopolitical instability—most notably the war in the Middle East—is now further weighing on growth and exposing significant differences in performance across markets,” he said.
Jankovec noted that despite the challenges, overall travel demand remains relatively strong, airline capacity reductions have remained limited, and earlier concerns regarding potential jet fuel shortages have eased.
However, he expressed serious concerns regarding the operational impact of the Schengen Entry/Exit System.
According to Jankovec, unless authorities provide greater flexibility—including the possibility of suspending the system when operationally necessary—passenger disruptions could intensify significantly over the coming months.
He warned that the situation risks becoming unsustainable for both airports and airlines and could damage Europe’s reputation as an efficient and welcoming travel destination.
Outlook Remains Cautiously Positive
Despite April’s decline, industry analysts remain cautiously optimistic about the broader outlook for European aviation.
Strong leisure travel demand, resilient airline networks and continued growth at regional airports are expected to provide support during the peak summer season.
However, the sector remains vulnerable to geopolitical developments, labour disputes, border management challenges and economic uncertainty.
For tourism boards, airlines, airports and hospitality stakeholders, the coming months will be critical in determining whether April’s decline represents a temporary setback or the beginning of a more prolonged period of moderated growth across the European aviation landscape.
