Updated March 2026

The Edit: This covers the changes coming to Patriot Express flights to Europe starting October 1, 2025, including which five routes are being canceled and why. It includes the official USTRANSCOM statement, clarifies that AMC organic and greytail flights to Europe are not affected, and breaks down who is impacted most. Designed to help military Space-A travelers understand what is actually changing, adjust their strategy, and keep flying to Europe after the cuts take effect.

Quick Facts

Feature	Details
What Is Changing	Five Patriot Express routes to Europe are canceled effective October 1, 2025.
Routes Closing	Rota, Spain; Naples and Sigonella, Italy; Souda Bay, Greece; Incirlik, Turkey.
Why	Low ridership did not justify the cost of contracted flights compared to available commercial options.
What Is NOT Changing	AMC organic flights (greytails) and rotator missions to Europe continue as normal.
Who Is Most Affected	Travelers relying on predictable PE schedules, especially families with young kids.
Retirees	Can still fly OCONUS but BWI is less reliable as a go-to terminal for Europe.
100% VA Rated and Survivors	Limited to CONUS and U.S. territories, so this change has minimal impact.
Best Departure Bases for Europe	Dover, NAS Norfolk, and Charleston remain solid options.
Best Arrival Bases in Europe	Ramstein, Spangdahlem, and Mildenhall.
What You Still Need	Valid passports and ID for all family members. ID rules for kids under 10 have changed.

There’s been a lot of buzz (and confusion) around the Patriot Express (PE) routes to Europe being canceled. So let’s clear this up.

Military Space-A flights to Europe are not ending, military bases still need supplies and personnel. But yes, some major changes are coming!

What’s Actually Happening?

Starting October 1, 2025, the U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) is shutting down five Patriot Express routes to Europe:

• 🇪🇸 Rota, Spain
• 🇮🇹 Naples & Sigonella, Italy
• 🇬🇷 Souda Bay, Greece
• 🇹🇷 Incirlik, Turkey

These were contracted flights, meaning the government was paying extra to run them. Due to low usage, they’re pulling back.

Are all AMC Flights to Europe Ending?

Nope! These closures only affect Patriot Express flights. AMC organic flights (a.k.a. greytails—think 72-hour schedules) and rotator missions are still flying overseas.

The difference?

• PE (Patriot Express) = predictable, scheduled flights
• Greytails = mission-based, pop-up flights

So yes, you’ll need to watch each base’s flight board more closely and be more flexible. Flying Space-A to Europe is still possible.

Five Patriot Express routes closing

Here’s the official statement according to USTRANSCOM on what’s going on and why:

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (July 1, 2025) – U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) announced Patriot Express (PE) flight service at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey; Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy; Naval Station Rota, Spain; Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy; and Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Greece, will end effective October 1, 2025.
The decision follows a comprehensive analysis of passenger flights, part of the Command’s continuous process of balancing mission requirements with costs.
The study revealed low ridership on PE flights at certain locations did not justify the expense of contracting dedicated flights when compared to readily available commercial air travel options.
The study showed significant cost avoidance by utilizing commercial flights instead of supplementing with bi-monthly PE flights at the five closing locations. This change will positively impact the transportation working capital fund, which supports the movement of the Joint Force.
“The Patriot Express usage rates gave us the real story; air travel isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.” said Rear Adm. Christopher Stone, USTRANSCOM’s strategic plans, policy and logistics director. “Commercial options offer availability, speed, and cost-effectiveness for those who support the mission at these locations.”
USTRANSCOM emphasizes proper planning will ensure commercial flights adequately meet the needs of DoD travelers. The command encourages service members and civilian employees to work with their installation travel offices and their chains of command to understand available options and manage travel expectations.

Who’s Affected The Most?

This change impacts those relying on:

• Predictable PE rotations from the listed bases
• Traveling with young kids or families who prefer more structure

If you’re a retiree, you can still fly OCONUS, but I’d take Baltimore Washington International (BWI) Passenger Terminal off your go-to list for now.

If you’re 100% VA-rated or a survivor, you’re limited to CONUS and U.S. territories anyway, so this likely may not affect you much.

🧳 Our Military Space-A strategy After October 1

We’re focusing on:

• Bases like Ramstein, Spangdahlem, and Mildenhall for arrivals
• Focus on Dover, NAS Norfolk, and Charleston for getting to Europe
• Always have passports + ID ready (ID rules for families have changed! Read our post on what you actually need for kids under 10 years old)

It may take more planning, but the process is absolutely still the same and worth it for the savings. Just check the flight schedule for each terminal as you normally would.

Final Thoughts

Yes, the Patriot Express cuts are a shakeup for the Europe routes, but they don’t mean the end of Space-A to Europe. With a little flexibility and planning, you can still explore the world on military flights.

If you’re new to all this or just want to tighten up your game, check out our How to Find and Understand Space-A Flight Schedules post for how we plan our routes, and don’t forget to grab our free Space-A Packing Checklist so you’re never scrambling last minute. We’ve got you covered.