Originally, we planned to travel to Spain’s Atlantic coast in July. Bilbao, San Sebastián and the Basque Country were all high on our list. Great food, pleasant weather, a surf course and a mix of coastline, cities and nature sounded perfect to us. However, right in the middle of our travel planning, a completely different topic suddenly appeared: possible flight disruptions during summer 2026.
Because of the Iran conflict and sharply rising jet fuel prices, German airports warned about potential restrictions in air traffic. According to the airport association, smaller tourist destinations and less profitable routes could be more vulnerable. Ironically, we read about it on www.tagesschau.de on the exact same day we finally wanted to book our summer 2026 trip. In moments like this, you suddenly realize how much geopolitical developments can now influence even private travel decisions.
The Iran Conflict and Rising Fuel Prices Are Changing Our Travel Planning
Bilbao is undoubtedly a fantastic destination. However, at least from a German perspective, it is not a classic mass tourism destination like the Costa Brava or Rhodes. In addition, many routes rely on smaller airlines and less frequented connections.
That exact combination was described in several reports as potentially more vulnerable. Especially if airlines begin reducing less profitable routes because of rising fuel prices. Of course, this does not automatically mean that flights will actually be canceled. Nevertheless, news like this changes the way you think about travel planning. Especially when traveling with your family and trying to avoid last minute flight changes shortly before your vacation begins.
Portugal Instead of the Basque Country: Our New Route for Summer 2026
Because of that, we started looking for an alternative that felt more stable while still offering a similar type of trip. In the end, we chose Portugal. We already know the country quite well. We have visited the Algarve several times and have also spent time in Lisbon before. This time, however, we are not heading south. Instead, we are traveling further north.
The plan is to fly to Lisbon first. From there, we will continue by rental car to Porto, where we will spend a few days before heading to Ericeira for a surf course.
In many ways, this route is a direct response to the current uncertainty surrounding air travel. Lisbon, as a major European capital, is much better connected than Bilbao. The route is considered one of the important European main connections and therefore feels more stable and predictable.
Reports About Possible Flight Disruptions Influenced Our Decision
When comparing flight prices*, the differences quickly became obvious. The cheapest options once again came from classic low cost airlines. At the same time, these airlines were mentioned more frequently in reports discussing possible reductions of less profitable routes.
As a result, we consciously decided against booking the cheapest flight. Instead, we chose TAP Air Portugal. The Portuguese airline belongs more to the group of established network carriers and therefore feels significantly more stable than pure budget airlines. In a way, it is somewhat comparable to Lufthansa in Germany.
Unfortunately, the tickets were much more expensive. However, we are flying directly on an important main route to Lisbon. Right now, those kinds of connections simply feel more predictable and reliable.
Travel in 2026 Is Becoming More Expensive and More Complicated
In the past, we usually just booked the cheapest available flight. Today, geopolitical conflicts, energy prices and the overall stability of flight connections suddenly play a much bigger role. On top of that, summer travel prices across Europe are already extremely high.
In the end, our Portugal trip will be significantly more expensive than we originally expected. Still, the decision feels right. We consciously chose what we personally consider to be a more stable connection and accepted the additional costs that come with it.
At the same time, we obviously hope that larger disruptions in air travel can still be avoided and that the overall situation will calm down again.
I’m Joshua, and my focus is road trips and round trips. I provide detailed travel information, planning tools, and practical tips for driving abroad. Together, we’ll make your next road trip perfectly organized and unforgettable
