ACI EUROPE published in June its 2025 Airport Industry Connectivity Report: the definitive barometer of air connectivity in Europe. Released ahead of the 35th ACI EUROPE Annual Congress & General Assembly, the report is based on the connectivity indexes developed by SEO Amsterdam Economics — the most comprehensive and complete tool for measuring and ranking airport connectivity. ACI EUROPE is the European arm of Airports Council International (ACI), the only worldwide professional association of airport operators. ACI EUROPE represents over 600 airports in 55 countries.
The report points out that despite a seven percent (7%) increase in 2025, Europe’s air connectivity remains nine percent (9%) below pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, passenger volumes have fully recovered and continue to grow, indicating that travellers have fewer and more expensive flight options. Unfavourable policies, market changes, and geopolitics are altering connectivity patterns and causing variations in performance among national and airport markets.
Geopolitics is affecting aviation in several ways. Airspace closures due to conflicts, such as the Israel-Iran tensions, have forced airlines to reroute flights, adding hours to journey times and increasing fuel costs.
Geopolitical tensions have led to increased operational costs for airlines, with some experiencing significant financial losses due to flight cancellations and rerouting. The industry is also seeing a shift in regional dominance, with airlines adapting to new routes and markets emerging as a result of geopolitical changes.
These emerging markets need not escape the searchlight of the aviation sector in Africa. The report stated that some European countries are thriving in air connectivity, with Greece, Portugal, and Cyprus leading the way with significant growth. However, others like Sweden, Finland, and Germany are experiencing notable declines due to geopolitics and aviation taxes. Among major markets, only Spain has surpassed its pre-pandemic levels. Outside the EU, countries like Uzbekistan, Albania, and Bosnia & Herzegovina are seeing substantial growth in air connectivity.
Geopolitical risks are affecting investments in aviation infrastructure, with governments treating critical infrastructure as national security assets and imposing stricter regulations on foreign operators. As a result, investors are now prioritizing regionally dominant firms with diversified ownership structures and geopolitical hedging strategies to mitigate risks. This, for the aviation sector in Africa, is a call to review scenario plans in the face of the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran and perhaps think through other scenarios that could be encountered. At the same time they should not lose sight of opportunities and threats that are emerging.
Geopolitical complexities are hindering sustainable aviation efforts, with airspace closures and rerouting resulting in increased fuel consumption and emissions. Efficient air traffic management and direct routes are crucial for reducing the aviation sector’s environmental impact. Going forward the changing geopolitical landscape will be incorporated into scenario plans for carbon accreditation by airports.
Airlines are building dedicated teams to monitor conflict zones and adapt to changing geopolitical landscapes. The industry is seeing growth in demand for technologies like anti-spoofing GPS systems and drone defense solutions to counter cyber threats and airspace surveillance needs.
Several factors beyond geopolitics are shaping the aviation market. Many people are travelling for leisure or to visit friends and family, driving growth in certain markets. The African climate is such that visiting friends and family should be a driver of aeronautical revenues to airports in the region. Across boundaries created by colonialism are friends and family.
The expansion of budget airlines is changing the way people travel, making air travel more accessible and affordable. This points to the need to explore the use of planes that will profitably support expansion to unserved markets for leisure, tourism and even for going back to school for regions with many educational institutions with poorly served air connectivity in Africa.
Low Cost Carriers ( LCCs) are making air travel more affordable, leading to increased demand and growth in certain markets. With a cost of living crisis, passengers are becoming more price-sensitive and flexible, driving demand for budget airlines and influencing airline business models. The growth of leisure and VFR demand is expanding markets, creating new opportunities for airlines and airports.
So, with these factors driving changes in the aviation market, shaping the way airlines operate and influencing the performance of national markets, the industry in Africa will keep a keen eye on the opportunities and threats that will result therefrom while looking at how to navigate through them in the face of their strengths and weaknesses.
May I, in this column, send my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones affected by the tragic plane crash in India. May those who lost loved ones find strength and peace during this difficult time. May the good Lord comfort and console them all.
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