Cyprus recorded the highest increase in commercial flights in September 2025 compared to the same month in 2019, according to the latest Eurostat data, outperforming all other EU member states.
Across the European Union, a total of 653,072 commercial flights were recorded in September 2025. This figure marks a 2.6% increase compared to September 2024. However, despite the annual rise, the number of flights remains 1.8% below pre-pandemic levels in September 2019.
Cyprus tops list
A closer look at the national figures reveals that 12 EU countries surpassed their 2019 flight numbers. Topping the list was Cyprus, with a remarkable 24.1% increase, followed closely by Poland (+22.4%) and Greece (+21.4%), signalling a strong rebound in air travel in the eastern and southern regions of Europe.
In contrast, some countries are still struggling to recover. Latvia (-29.8%), Sweden (-27.3%), and Finland (-23.9%)recorded the largest declines compared to their 2019 levels, highlighting the uneven nature of the recovery across the continent.
The figures reflect a broader trend of resurgent travel in certain parts of the EU, with Cyprus emerging as a leader in the post-pandemic aviation rebound.
