BRUSSELS, Belgium — With summer only a few months away, travelers eyeing European getaways may find the journey as challenging as the destination is alluring. Brussels is one of many European capitals bracing for renewed labor actions, squeezed aircraft supplies and detours around closed airspace that could snarl schedules from June through September.
Strikes keep airlines and travelers on edge
Labor unrest is hardly new on the continent, yet the past year has been unusually turbulent. Ground-handling crews, pilots and air-traffic controllers walked out in waves across multiple countries, forcing carriers to cancel or reschedule thousands of departures at short notice. Gediminas Žiemelis, founder and chairman of the aviation conglomerate Avia Solutions Group, told Euronews that such stoppages have become an annual headache, adding that his company’s ground-service subsidiary in Scandinavia “has not had a single year without major strike challenges” — as Žiemelis told Euronews. For passengers, the immediate impact is clear: longer queues, sudden schedule shifts and, at worst, abandoned vacation plans. For airlines, every day of industrial action chips away at margins during the lucrative high season. When crews walk out, carriers must either charter replacement capacity, compensate fliers or both.
Plane shortage adds fresh pressure
The labor issue is only half the story. Airlines are simultaneously wrestling with a dearth of aircraft. Žiemelis noted that about 3,4000 narrow-body jets and 1,200 wide-body jets that should have rolled off production lines since the pandemic simply have not been built. Delivery delays trace back to parts bottlenecks at both Boeing and Airbus, compounded by pandemic-era factory shutdowns. Because fresh metal is late, carriers are operating existing jets two or three years longer than planned. Older cabins translate into more out-of-service days for maintenance just when passenger demand is roaring back. Global passenger numbers are projected to hit 5.2 billion in 2025, up 6.7 percent on 2024, according to the International Air Transport Association. Airlines have little choice but to stretch their fleets—and, by extension, their maintenance budgets—until manufacturers catch up.
Congested skies: Ukraine and Israel reroutes
Geopolitics has further squeezed European air corridors. The ongoing war in Ukraine, coupled with unrest in Israel, has forced carriers to skirt large swaths of airspace. Those detours add minutes—or in some cases hours—to flight times between Western Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Extra minutes mean extra fuel burn, higher costs and potential ripple delays throughout the network.
Inside the ACMI model travelers rarely see
Faced with the triple squeeze of strikes, aircraft scarcity and longer routings, many carriers are turning to ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) leasing companies to plug seasonal gaps. Avia Solutions Group is the world’s largest provider, fielding 209 aircraft that airlines can wet-lease for as little as six months. “Record traffic, shortage of aircraft, deferred deliveries, unforeseen engine problems—these are the main challenges in aviation today,” Žiemelis said in the Euronews interview. Under an ACMI deal, the lessor supplies an aircraft and crew, handles maintenance and insurance, and hands back the jet when demand eases. Airlines can boost summer schedules without permanently expanding fleets, while travelers receive extra flight options that might not otherwise exist. Žiemelis argues that tapping ACMI for up to 10 percent of a carrier’s fleet for, at most, half a year can lift airline profitability by about 2 to 3 percent.
Global shuffle keeps planes flying year-round
Because European summer coincides with winter in the Southern Hemisphere, Avia Solutions bases part of its fleet in Indonesia, Thailand, Brazil and Mexico once the northern tourist rush subsides. A recently opened service center in the Philippines supports this global shuffle by supplying remote staff. The firm’s long-term plan is to grow beyond 700 aircraft and capture a share of an ACMI market estimated at $30 billion that could require 1,500 jets.
Green future: renewable jet fuel and new planes
Regulators are not letting the industry focus solely on growth. The European Union’s sustainable-aviation-fuel (SAF) mandate steps up blending quotas over the next decade, forcing carriers to source cleaner fuel or pay penalties. Avia Solutions intends to open a SAF and synthetic-fuel plant in Latvia in 2030, which it says will be Northern Europe’s largest. Separately, the company has ordered 80 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to offer airlines more fuel-efficient lift once production schedules normalize.
Spotlight on Poland and emerging hubs
Eastern Europe’s air travel boom adds another layer of complexity. Poland expects to handle 59.5 million passengers in 2024, a jump of 15.6 percent on 2023 and 22 percent on 2019. Rapid growth fuels demand for extra seats, more ground handling and additional maintenance slots—all areas where third-party specialists are cashing in.
What travelers can expect in summer 2024
If you are planning to cross the Atlantic or hop inside Europe this summer, prepare for the following:
- Early bookings matter. With aircraft capacity tight, the cheapest economy seats are disappearing earlier than usual—especially on Friday and Sunday departures.
- Allow buffer time. Connections that looked safe on paper in 2019 may be risky today. Schedule at least a two-hour layover within Europe and three hours on transatlantic itineraries.
- Check labor calendars. Many unions announce strike ballots weeks in advance. Subscribe to airport social feeds or news alerts for hubs like Paris-Charles de Gaulle, London-Heathrow and Frankfurt.
- Carry-on rules may evolve. The European Parliament is debating standard cabin-bag dimensions. If passed, the measure could push fares up on low-cost carriers that currently charge for larger bags.
- Watch fuel-surcharge lines. SAF mandates and longer routes may creep into ticket costs. Compare total price, not just base fare.
FAQ
Will strikes cancel my flight?
No airline can guarantee immunity, but larger carriers often have contingency wet-lease agreements. If a stoppage occurs, you may be rebooked on an ACMI-operated flight with little notice.
Why are aircraft deliveries so late?
Boeing and Airbus still face pandemic-era parts shortages. Roughly 3,4000 single-aisle and 1,200 twin-aisle jets remain in backlog beyond original delivery dates.
Are older planes safe?
Yes. Airlines extend service lives under strict maintenance regimes, sometimes overseen by third-party shops such as FL Technic, an Avia Solutions subsidiary.
Will sustainable fuel raise fares?
Short term, SAF costs more than conventional jet fuel. EU blending mandates may lift ticket prices modestly, though wider production could bring costs down by the decade’s end.
Is the aircraft shortage global or just European?
Global. However, Europe feels the pinch more acutely because of rapid post-pandemic demand recovery and limited freedom to shift flights eastward due to closed Ukrainian airspace.
Tips for Travelers
- Flex your dates. Mid-week departures face fewer strike threats and lower load factors.
- Consider secondary airports. Cities like Brussels, Belgium and Bologna, Italy often dodge the worst congestion seen at mega-hubs.
- Monitor aircraft type. If you prefer newer cabins, look for flights scheduled on 737 MAX or A320neo jets, both designed for fuel efficiency and quieter cabins.
- Book with a credit card that covers disruptions. Strike-related cancellations may entitle you to EU 261 compensation, but extra insurance never hurts.
The bottom line
Europe’s summer skies are set to be busier, more congested and possibly more strike-prone than ever. Yet airlines and specialist lessors are deploying creative fixes—from short-term ACMI leases to counter-seasonal fleet shifts—to keep travelers moving. Staying informed and flexible remains your best passport to a smooth journey. — as Žiemelis told Euronews.
