Albania continues to increase commercial flights, about 126% more than before the pandemic, leading Europe
According to the latest data published by Eurostat, in February 2026, the level of flights in the European Union still remains 3.6% lower compared to February 2019, indicating that full recovery has not yet been achieved in all countries.
In this regard, Albania stands out, registering the highest growth among all the countries analyzed, with an increase of 126.2%. This development is closely related to the strong growth of tourism, the expansion of airlines and the increase of “low-cost” operators, which have turned the country into one of the most dynamic destinations in the region.
Albania is followed by Iceland (56.9%), Malta (55.2%), Bosnia & Herzegovina (54.0%) and Serbia (53.6%), which have also significantly exceeded pre-pandemic levels. North Macedonia (+45.4%) and Greece (+32.9%) also confirm a positive trend in the Balkan region, reflecting a high demand for travel and tourism.
In Central and Southern Europe, countries such as Poland (+24.2%), Turkey (+19.2%), Spain (+17.5%) and Portugal (+15.5%) have managed to exceed 2019 levels, benefiting from the return of international tourism and increased passenger traffic. Meanwhile, countries such as Italy and Romania are recording more moderate, but still positive, growth.
In contrast, some of Europe's largest economies continue to remain below pre-pandemic levels. Germany (-24.8%), Sweden (-32.1%) and Slovenia (-36.8%) recorded significant declines, while France (-4.9%), the Netherlands (-7.1%) and the United Kingdom (-7.0%) have also not yet fully recovered. These differences are often linked to changes in the structure of the aviation market, environmental policies and operating costs.
At the same time, Nordic countries such as Finland (-12.4%) and Norway (-14.1%) continue to remain at lower levels, reflecting a slower recovery in flight demand.
Albania, in this context, is consolidating itself as one of the fastest growing markets on the continent, benefiting from the development of tourism and its increasingly attractive position on the European air travel map.
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