European Regions Airline Association (ERA) director general Montserrat Barriga has warned that growing cost pressures, regulatory burdens and the loss of regional routes are threatening connectivity across Europe, despite continued demand for air travel.
Speaking at the association's General Assembly in Belfast, Barriga said regional airlines were operating in an increasingly challenging environment.
"Geopolitical tensions have affected fuel, airspace, supply chains, and economic confidence. For regional airlines with thin margins, there is little room to absorb further costs or the opportunity to diversify operations," she told delegates on the final day of the show.
Local political decisions are also cause for concern among members according to Barriga. "State aid for aviation, both airlines and airport, is also under significant threat, potentially limiting the tools available to governments and regions to protect essential connectivity".
She noted that jet fuel prices in 2026 are expected to average around 70% higher than in 2025, potentially accounting for almost one-third of airline operating costs.
Barriga said the impact on regional aviation was already becoming visible. While overall traffic growth across Europe remains strong, capacity in the regional airline segment fell by 5% through August compared with the same period last year. She added that more than 100 regional routes had disappeared over the past five years.
“Behind every lost route, there is a community with fewer opportunities, reduced access to employment, education, health and wider international connections,” she said.
Despite the challenges, Barriga struck an optimistic note about the sector's long-term prospects. She argued that demand for air travel remains resilient and that regional aviation's role in connecting remote and underserved communities is becoming increasingly recognised by policymakers and the public.
According to Barriga, Europe’s fleet of aircraft with fewer than 150 seats is projected to at least double by 2044, reflecting the growing need for right-sized capacity rather than larger aircraft. She said the next phase of European aviation would be defined by matching aircraft size more closely to community demand.
Barriga also highlighted ERA's advocacy work on issues including passenger rights reform, sustainable aviation fuel policy and pilot training, while identifying the new European Aviation Strategy, state aid rules and RefuelEU implementation as key priorities for the association in the coming years.
