Brussels: Passenger traffic at European airports experienced a decline in April, marking the first such decrease since the aviation sector's recovery began five years ago following the COVID-19 pandemic. This downturn is attributed to disruptions stemming from the ongoing war on Iran. According to Oman News Agency, Airports Council International Europe (ACI Europe) reported that passenger traffic across the continent's airport network fell by 0.7 percent in April 2026 compared to the same month the previous year. The Brussels-based association highlighted that this decrease signifies the first year-on-year drop in passenger traffic since the European aviation industry's rebound in April 2021.