How much did commercial flights increase in January? Eurostat: Albania, record increase of 115.7% compared to the pre-pandemic period
Commercial flights are increasingly becoming a direct indicator of tourism development and the dynamics of the movement of citizens, both domestic and foreign. The increase in the number of flights reflects not only the increasing demand for travel, but also the strengthening of a country's economic and touristic ties with the rest of the world. In this context, Albania has recorded impressive performance in recent years, attracting growing interest from international visitors and consolidating its position as an increasingly sought-after destination.
According to data published by Eurostat, in January 2026 Albania recorded a 115.7% increase in commercial flights compared to the same month before the pandemic. This result places the country at the top of the ranking not only in the region, but throughout Europe for the highest growth rate in this indicator.
Another significant element is the performance of the countries of the region, which have also recorded significant growth. After Albania, Serbia ranks with an increase of 56.7%, maintaining second place. Meanwhile, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia are also included among the five countries with the highest growth, with 52.4% and 48.5% respectively, which indicates an overall recovery of air traffic in the Balkans. Meanwhile, Montenegro recorded a decrease of 4.6%.
At the European level, Iceland is positioned after Albania, followed by Cyprus with 41.3%, Malta with 38% and Greece with 26.2%, countries that have also benefited from the increased demand for travel and tourism.
However, the picture is not positive for all countries. Slovenia is the country with the largest decline on the continent, with a decrease of 44.6% compared to the pre-pandemic period. The negative trend also continues in other countries such as Sweden with -37.6%, Latvia with -30.9% and Germany with -27.9%.
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