Nearly one in four European airline pilots continued flying despite feeling too fatigued to work or declare themselves unfit, a survey of 7,200 captains and first officers across 32 countries found. Conducted by aviation consultancy Baines Simmons for the European Cockpit Association (ECA), the August 2026 survey also recorded widespread cockpit microsleeps and insufficient rest, highlighting persistent fatigue-management concerns across the region.
Some 24.2% of respondents said they continued flying when fatigued, while only about 37% normally reported themselves unfit to fly. A further 16.8% said they called in sick instead. Almost half feared negative management consequences after reporting fatigue, with about 38% specifically concerned about punishment or retaliation.
Fatigue symptoms were widespread. Some 76.8% reported at least one microsleep while operating an aircraft during the previous four weeks, and 38.8% said they usually or always lacked sufficient rest to prevent cumulative fatigue. Among low-cost-carrier pilots, 11% reported experiencing at least 10 microsleeps during that period.
Reported practices varied sharply by country. About two in five pilots at Spanish airlines said they usually flew while tired, compared with roughly one in 10 at British airlines; French and Irish operators also recorded elevated levels. Respondents identified inadequate rest, pressure to extend duties and fear of adverse management reactions as barriers to fatigue reporting. The survey reflects self-reported experiences and does not establish equal representation across airlines or countries.