**EU Commercial Air Traffic Recovers to Near Pre-Pandemic Levels in 2025**
Airlines across the European Union have seen a significant recovery in commercial air traffic, with a total of 6.9 million flights operated in 2025. This figure, reported by Eurostat, marks a 3.8% increase from the 6.7 million flights recorded in 2024 and brings air travel within the EU close to pre-pandemic levels, which stood at 7.0 million flights in 2019.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, air traffic in Europe has been on a steady upward trajectory, with a notable resurgence beginning in 2021. The gradual recovery reflects a broader trend of increasing consumer confidence and travel demand as restrictions have eased and the tourism sector has rebounded.
A closer look at the data reveals that non-scheduled commercial services, which include charter operations and specialized flights, accounted for 8.5% of total air traffic within the EU in 2025. The summer months saw particularly high activity in non-scheduled services, with June, July, and August recording the highest shares of these operations.
In June, total flights reached 648,707, with non-scheduled services making up 11.2% of that traffic. July saw an increase in overall activity, with 690,855 flights, where non-scheduled operations represented 12.3%. August peaked with 693,046 total flights, maintaining a strong presence of non-scheduled services at 11.4% of the monthly total.
The busiest airport in the EU for commercial flights in 2025 was Amsterdam Schiphol in the Netherlands, which processed 488,000 movements across both scheduled and non-scheduled traffic. Following closely was Paris-Charles de Gaulle in France, handling 476,000 flights, while Frankfurt/Main in Germany secured the third position with 457,000 flights.
Among the ten busiest airports in Europe, Athina/Eleftherios Venizelos in Greece stood out for its high proportion of non-scheduled flights, which accounted for 5.2% of its total air traffic. Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas in Spain followed with non-scheduled flights representing 4.8% of its traffic, while København/Kastrup in Denmark recorded a share of 4.1%.
The data reflects a significant recovery in the aviation sector, indicating that both leisure and business travel are rebounding as the EU continues to navigate the post-pandemic landscape. The increase in flights and the notable share of non-scheduled services suggest that travelers are increasingly seeking flexibility and alternative travel options, particularly during peak travel seasons.
As the aviation industry continues to adapt and evolve in response to changing consumer preferences and market conditions, the recovery of air traffic in the EU is expected to remain a key area of focus for airlines and policymakers alike. The figures from 2025 not only highlight the resilience of the sector but also set a positive precedent for future growth and development in European air travel.