Brussels:The ongoing conflicts in the Middle East are anticipated to hinder the growth of European air traffic, resulting in a reduction of approximately 110,000 flights in 2026, as per projections from the aviation agency Eurocontrol.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, despite strong passenger demand over the summer, the European aviation sector did not meet growth expectations. The number of flights within the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) region is predicted to rise by 1.7% this year, reaching 11.2 million flights. This is a downward revision from the previously projected 2.7% growth.

The geopolitical developments in the Middle East have led to changes in flight routes and increased jet fuel prices, affecting the growth forecast for European aviation. However, Eurocontrol anticipates a recovery in growth momentum next year, with an expected 3.2% increase to 11.6 million flights by 2027.

Eurocontrol forecasts that the situation in the Middle East will stabilize by the end of the first quarter of 2027. However, a more pessimistic scenario suggests tensions could persist until the end of the first quarter of 2028, with high fuel costs and weak economic growth potentially limiting air travel demand.

The recovery in air traffic is anticipated to be more pronounced next year, with stronger growth expected in Turkey and some Eastern Mediterranean countries. From 2026 to 2032, the number of flights across Europe is projected to increase by an average of 2.1% annually, with the total number of flights reaching approximately 12.8 million by 2032.

Despite the medium-term growth outlook remaining largely stable, the number of flights may slightly fall short of previous expectations due to geopolitical developments. Eurocontrol's network management report noted an average of 35,679 flights per day in European airspace last month, a 2.5% increase from the previous month.

On September 4, the busiest day recorded, there were 37,548 flights in European airspace. Air traffic flow management delays totaled over 2.4 million minutes. Operational performance was impacted by capacity constraints, adverse weather, and air traffic management issues, despite the rise in air traffic.

Geopolitical developments, airspace restrictions, energy prices, and air travel demand will continue to shape trends in the near future, Eurocontrol stated.