By the end of 2022, European air passenger numbers had recovered to 78% of 2019 levels. A full recovery to pre-pandemic passenger volumes was expected by the end of 2023, a performance not anticipated by most aviation stakeholders during the crisis. However, capacity issues and the outbreak of war in Ukraine, as economies were emerging from the effects of the pandemic, led to increased levels of uncertainty across aviation and airports. This volatility was further exacerbated by factors such as recruitment/retention challenges, capacity issues in larger airports and the increasing impact of extreme weather events. While smaller European airport volumes recovered more quickly than larger ones, these airports continued to face severe cost and revenue challenges, when they needed to focus on connectivity and repairing balance sheets. Already vital airline relationships and State aid became more critical to the future viability of smaller airports. Aeronautical revenue was increasingly impacted by route deals advantageous to airlines, necessitating a greater airport focus on non-aeronautical revenue. The increasing use of larger airports by low-cost carriers further affected the prospects for sustained regional airport recovery. This paper aims to highlight key influences on European regional airport passenger performance through the uncertain and challenging 2019–2022 period, the impact of increased competition, and future prospects for these airports.