Beyond the busiest routes: ERAA report reveals the network connecting Europe’s regions

Belfast, 5 October 2026 – The European Regions Airline Association (ERAA) has unveiled its flagship Annual Pulse 2026: The State of Regional Aviation in Europe at its General Assembly in Belfast, revealing the scale and diversity of the lower-volume network that connects Europe’s regions.

The analysis shows that Europe’s aviation connectivity extends far beyond its busiest routes in terms of passenger numbers. Just 440 of Europe’s busiest routes account for 25% of total capacity, while the same share is spread across approximately 5,700 lower passenger volume routes.

Yet despite their critical role in Europe’s connectivity, almost four in five routes offering fewer than 50,000 seats a year are served by a single airline, leaving many communities with limited alternatives if a service changes or disappears.

Against this backdrop, Annual Pulse 2026 sets out ERAA’s priorities for a policy framework that recognises the diversity of Europe’s aviation network, protects regional connectivity, supports competitiveness and enables investment in decarbonisation.

Montserrat Barriga, Director General, ERAA, said:

“Europe’s connectivity depends on far more than just the busiest routes but on thousands of regional air services that provide essential links for communities, businesses and public services across the continent, often in markets where there are few or no alternatives.

“This is why headline air traffic growth figures only tell part of the story. Maintaining connectivity across Europe requires a network that works for markets of all sizes, with aircraft capacity and frequencies matched to local demand.

“As policymakers shape the future of European aviation, it is vital that the realities of regional connectivity are recognised. The right policy framework should give regional airlines the conditions to maintain these services, invest with confidence in more efficient aircraft and keep Europe’s regions connected for the long term.”

Annual Pulse 2026: The State of Regional Aviation in Europe is available to read online here.