European aviation posts busiest summer on record in 2026

Summer 2026 was the busiest summer on record for European aviation, according to EUROCONTROL, with an average of 35,959 flights per day, 2.4% more than the previous summer. The network reached a record 37,659 flights in a single day on July 24. Despite the higher traffic levels, air traffic flow-management delays actually fell by 17% compared to the year before, while arrival punctuality improved.

Eurostat separately reported 1.321 billion overnight stays in EU tourist accommodation during the first half of 2026, up 1.7% from the same period in 2025, following another record year in 2025 when EU accommodation establishments recorded almost 3.1 billion overnight stays in total. Emerging destinations captured a growing share of that demand: Albania recorded 11.9 million international arrivals in 2025, 93.6% above its 2019 level, driven by improved air connectivity and growing international interest in the Albanian Riviera.