Geneva: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has revealed that air travel is increasing worldwide, while air travel growth in Europe remained limited to just 1% in 2025. According to data released by IATA, Europe’s air connectivity nearly stagnated in 2025, with only a 1% net increase in the total number of air routes connecting Europe internally and with other continents. In comparison, European air travel had recorded an average annual growth of 1.5% over the past decade.
IATA Senior Vice President for External Relations Thomas Reynaert said that the growth in airline route networks reflects both demand trends and the operating environment. He noted that it was not surprising that the European Union’s (EU) air connectivity remained almost frozen in 2025.
According to Reynaert, Europe is facing a heavy regulatory burden, which is increasing operational costs, while the EU’s competitiveness issues have not been seriously addressed. Consumer protection regulations are a clear example of this. He said the current regulations contain flaws, and attempts to fix them have instead increased the problems. Due to these factors, it has become difficult for airlines to expand air connectivity, despite the fact that Europe’s employment and economic growth heavily depend on the aviation sector.
The data showed that the European Union canceled 1,127 air routes in 2025, while flights began operating on 1,281 new routes. Overall, there was a net increase of 154 routes, bringing the total number of air routes to 14,797.
The benefits of Europe’s air travel industry are also significant. More than 9.2 million jobs in the European Union are linked to aviation and aviation-related tourism. The aviation and tourism sectors contribute EUR 760 billion to the EU’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The growth of air travel has strengthened business, social, and leisure activities, while also connecting Europe internally and with the rest of the world.
Reynaert further stated that Europe’s prosperity depends on extensive and efficient intra-continental and intercontinental air links. Every new air route creates new jobs, business opportunities, and social connections. Fortunately, European policymakers have several opportunities to introduce smarter regulations that can help airlines grow and compete more effectively.
In this regard, IATA has proposed several recommendations for European policymakers, including reforms to passenger rights regulations, particularly extending the time thresholds for compensation, reducing the cost of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), and introducing a “book-and-claim” system for SAF purchases. It also recommended strengthening regulations related to airport and air navigation charges to improve cost efficiency and allowing greater flexibility for airport slot relief during times of crisis.
