Air traffic in the European network in summer 2025
Air traffic in Europe this summer is expected to be at least 5% above the traffic levels of 2024 – in some areas considerably more. The European air traffic network is saturated and we need to work together with all the aviation stakeholders to make best use of available capacity.
With close to 37,000 flights expected on peak days, traffic in Europe is back to pre-pandemic levels. Yet this volume of traffic is being handled through only 80% of the airspace that was available before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Traffic remains very unevenly distributed, with air navigation service providers (ANSPs) in the South-West, South-East and Central Europe facing 30-40% more flights than in 2019.
While some air navigation service providers (ANSPs) are expected to improve their performance compared to 2024, lack of air traffic control capacity to cope with demand is expected to cause high delays in many parts of the network this summer, generating significant bottlenecks.
To minimise Summer 2025 delays, the EUROCONTROL Network Manager (NM) has put in place a daily coordination mechanism with all partners in the European air traffic network, with the aim of reconciling demand from airlines for flights with available capacity in area control centres (ACCs) and on the ground. Part of this planning process includes jointly establishing the Network Operations Plan (NOP), a new edition of which is published each Friday as the Rolling Seasonal Plan. Each ‘Rolling NOP’ looks eight weeks ahead, and provides an overview on planning to minimise disruptions and maximise performance, based on the resources available.
NM’s #thinkNetwork campaign calls on all aviation actors to think of the impact of local decisions on network traffic as a whole. The campaign identifies five priority action areas for operational stakeholders in order to make busy summer traffic as efficient as possible for the travelling public. These are: delivering agreed capacities, minimising the impacts of adverse weather, prioritising first rotation, filing realistic flight plans – and sticking to them and ensuring that flight schedules are realistic.
Throughout the summer, EUROCONTROL will be publishing regular Flash Briefings, giving a weekly update on the European air traffic network situation, and explaining where EUROCONTROL and partners have been concentrating efforts to reduce disruptions to the network to a minimum.
Consult the latest Flash Briefing, the Rolling NOP, the #thinkNetwork guide and webtool, and the series of #thinkNetwork video explainers, below.
Latest news and updates
European Network Operations Plan 2025 Rolling Seasonal Plan
#thinkNetwork 2025: webtool & guide
Webtool and guide to support operational stakeholders in preparing for busy summer traffic and highlight the impact of local decisions on the network as a whole.
Special #FlashBriefing
Overview of the performance of the European aviation network in Summer 2025 (June-August)
#thinkNetwork explainer videos
The explainer videos come as part of the EUROCONTROL Network Manager’s #thinkNetwork campaign to manage busy summer air traffic across the European aviation network. EUROCONTROL has also made available a webtool and a comprehensive guide for flight dispatchers, pilots, air traffic controllers, flow management positions and airports to ensure aviation organisations consider these priorities.
#thinkNetwork
The EUROCONTROL Network Manager has also put in place a campaign - #thinkNetwork - calling on all stakeholders to work together to make the summer as efficient as possible for the travelling public. The campaign focuses on five areas of action: delivering agreed capacities, minimising the impacts of adverse weather, prioritising first rotation, filing realistic flight plans – and sticking to them and ensuring that flight schedules are realistic.
