Belgium recorded the largest increase at 28.7%, followed by Austria at 22.3% and Greece at 15.1%. Despite periods of easing, price fluctuations remain significant across EU member states.
The cost of air transport in the European Union—including airline ticket prices—continues to fluctuate considerably, driven by strong travel demand, seasonal tourism patterns, and geopolitical developments that continue to shape the aviation market. According to the latest Eurostat data, despite occasional periods of price moderation, differences between member states remain substantial, with Greece ranking among the countries that recorded the steepest year-on-year price increases in June 2026.
Eurostat’s figures show that the average price of air transport services, including airfares, experienced significant volatility between January 2025 and June 2026. This trend reflects changes in travel demand and the seasonality of tourism, while also being influenced by recent geopolitical developments affecting the international aviation sector.
During the period from January 2025 to June 2026, the largest annual increase in air transport service prices was recorded in April 2025, when prices rose by 13.7% compared with April 2024. More moderate increases followed during the summer months.
The year 2026 began with a year-on-year decline in prices, followed by increases in February and March before a sharp drop in April (-4.7%). However, the trend reversed in May, with prices rising by 8.1% compared with May 2025. The upward momentum continued in June, when prices increased by a further 3.1% year on year.
The largest swings came from international air transport, which has the greatest impact on the overall price index. International flight prices recorded steeper declines during periods of weaker demand but also posted stronger increases when travel activity rebounded, rising by 14.1% in April 2025 and 8.7% in May 2026.
In June 2026, prices for international air transport rose by 4.5%, while domestic flight prices increased by 2.0%, confirming that international routes remain the primary driver of overall air travel costs.
Wide Differences Across EU Member States
The picture varies considerably from one country to another. Between April and June 2026, annual changes in air transport service prices differed sharply across European Union member states.
Belgium recorded price increases in all three months, although the pace of growth slowed over time. Prices rose by 41.5% in April, 33.8% in May, and 28.7% in June compared with the corresponding months of 2025.
At the other end of the spectrum, Slovakia posted the steepest declines, with air transport prices falling by 53.0% in April, 48.2% in May, and 45.1% in June.
In most EU countries, air transport prices fell in April 2026 before returning to an upward trend in May. In June, Belgium recorded the largest annual increase at 28.7%, followed by Austria at 22.3% and Greece, where air transport service prices rose by 15.1% year on year. This places Greece among the countries with the sharpest price increases in Europe during a period of strong tourism activity and robust demand for air travel.
By contrast, Hungary (-13.6%) and Poland (-13.1%) recorded some of the largest declines, highlighting the significant disparities that continue to characterize the European air transport market.
Content Manager: Ambassador Mykonos Promo Kostas Skagias
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