Europe's Aviation Market

Monthly Airline Data Updates for the European Market

Discover the Busiest Airports and Airlines in Europe This Month | August 2025

How much airline capacity is there in Europe? Find out with new data each month, detailing:

  • Which is the busiest airport?
  • What is the biggest airline in Europe?
  • Which European country has the most airline capacity?
  • Which regions are most visited?
  • And more.
Data is sourced from OAG's Schedules Analyser; a cutting-edge platform for airline schedule analysis. 

 

Airline Capacity in Europe | August 2025

 

How much airline capacity is there in Europe This Month?

  • Overall capacity in Europe reached 173.5 million seats this month, a 3.6% increase compared to August 2024.
  • International capacity grew by 5%, whilst domestic capacity reduced by 1.7% vs August 2024.
  • Low Cost Carriers' capacity grew by 4.7% vs last year. Mainline carriers' capacity grew by 3% and continues to represent 61% of the market.

*As of July 2025, international capacity is reported on a two-way basis (previously one-way departing).

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European Countries' Airline Capacity | August 2025

 

Which European Country Has The Most Airline Capacity (Domestic + International)?

  • Spain and the UK are the largest capacity markets, with 18.2m and 17.5m seats respectively. Capacity rose by 2.8% in Spain and 1.1% in the UK compared to August 2024.
  • Capacity grew at the fastest rate in Türkiye by 9.4%, adding 1.2m seats.

Which European Country Has THE Most DOMESTIC Airline Capacity?

 

  • Türkiye and Spain are the largest domestic markets, with 5.5m seats and 5.3m seats respectively, despite a 2.1% reduction in domestic capacity in Spain vs last year.
  • Capacity reduced percentage-wise most in the UK out of those in the Top 10, declining by 10.2% again this month. This represents 234,500 fewer seats vs August 2024.

Top Ten Busiest Airports by Departing Seats in Europe | August 2025

 

Which is the Busiest Airport in Europe?

  • Istanbul remains the busiest airport in Europe, growing by 6.8% to 4.76m seats. Heathrow is the second busiest airport, with capacity down 0.7% to 4.53 million seats.
  • Of those in the Top 10, Istanbul and Barcelona saw the highest growth, with capacity up 6.8% and 5.2% respectively year-on-year. 
  • London Gatwick saw the largest decline, with capacity down 2.5% compared to August 2024.

  • Busiest Airports in the World - data on the busiest global airports | View Now

Airline Capacity By European Region | August 2025

Which Region of Europe Has Most AIRLINE Capacity?

  • 72% of capacity is from or within Western Europe, growing by 3% vs last year to 125.4m seats.
  • Capacity in Eastern/Central Europe continues to grow at a faster rate of 5.6%, to 23.3m seats.

Where do flights from Europe go?

  • The largest international market is within Europe with 93.6m seats, adding 4.2m seats and making up 67% share of the market in August 25.
  • The second largest international market is North America with 12.9m seats, with an increase in capacity of 2.8% vs last year.
  • Travel to/from Asia Pacific grew at the fastest rate again this month by 8.1% vs last year to 8.1m seats, adding 646,600 seats vs August 2024.
  • Busiest Routes Right Now > the world's busiest airline routes | View Now

Top Ten Airlines in Europe (Departing seats, one-way) | August 2025

 

Which is the biggest airline in Europe?

  • Ryanair is the largest carrier within Europe with 20.9m seats, an increase of 2% vs last year. It is operating 10.7m more seats than easyJet, the second largest carrier.
  • Pegasus and Wizz Air saw the fastest growth this month, increasing capacity by 16.4% and 15.2% year-on-year.

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