Passenger traffic growth at European airports slowed to just 5 percent in the third quarter of this year, according to figures from airport trade body ACI Europe. That represents a small decline from year-over-year increases of 6 percent in Q2 and 9 percent in Q1, signaling a deceleration after a strong start to the year.
Olivier Jankovec, director general of ACI Europe, described the summer-season results as “robust, but diminishing.” He pointed to several factors behind the slowdown: limited airport capacity, industrial unrest, rising oil prices and ongoing airline consolidation. Those pressures have constrained the industry’s ability to sustain earlier double-digit gains.
Performance varied significantly across the region. Some airports recorded double-digit growth, including Athens (ATH), Vienna (VIE), Milan (MXP), Warsaw (WAW), Budapest (BUD), Malta (MLA), Luxembourg (LUX), Bratislava (BTA) and Tallinn (TLL). By contrast, other markets posted much weaker results: Sweden saw a slight decline of 0.1 percent, while the United Kingdom and the Netherlands grew by only 1.5 percent and 1.8 percent respectively.
Smaller airports — defined as those handling fewer than five million passengers a year — outperformed the European average, growing 6.7 percent. Notable strong performers included Moscow (DME), Tel Aviv (TLV), Kyiv (IEV), Reykjavik (KEF), Tbilisi (TBS), Tirana (TIA), Skopje (SKP) and Podgorica (TGD), where traffic gains were particularly pronounced.
Jankovec warned that several structural and economic headwinds are cooling demand. Airport capacity constraints limit the ability to add flights during peak periods, while labor disputes and industrial action disrupt operations. Higher oil prices increase airline operating costs, and consolidation within the carrier sector reduces competition on some routes. In addition, aviation taxes and signs of economic slowdown are weighing on demand in specific markets, contributing to subdued growth in countries such as Sweden and Turkey.
Overall, the third-quarter data suggest that while passenger numbers remain healthy across much of Europe, growth momentum is easing. The mix of capacity limits, cost pressures and market adjustments means airlines and airports will need to manage operations carefully to maintain service levels and respond to shifting demand into the rest of the year.