Ryanair, British Airways and Air France-KLM reported buoyant traffic on their networks in October, capping a strong summer which helped to offset record oil prices.
Analysts said, however, that those volumes were unlikely to be maintained in the tough winter period when more Europeans stay at home. The airlines themselves admitted they were cautious about the next three months.
"The December quarter is the most uncertain period of the year as the strong summer months drop off into winter," UBS told clients in a note.
Ryanair posted a slightly better-than-expected rise in second-quarter net profit on Monday but said it remained cautious in its outlook for winter, knocking its shares.
British Airways shares had also fallen on Friday after the carrier, Europe's third-largest, beat second-quarter earnings forecasts and raised its sales forecasts but failed to impress a market looking for more cost cuts.
Demand for travel and the introduction of fuel surcharges, however, have left the industry - which was bracing for a "bloodbath" at this time last year - in a better position than expected.
"The revenue environment for European network airlines is proving to be much stronger than was generally expected three months ago, despite the imposition of fuel price surcharges," J.P. Morgan analyst Chris Avery said.
TRAFFIC STRONG Air France-KLM said on Monday that buoyant traffic on its networks in Europe and the Americas drove an 8.9 percent rise in traffic in October.
This compared with a 6.4 percent rise for British Airways announced on Friday.
Fast-expanding low-cost carriers Ryanair and easyJet reported gains of 23 percent and 14 percent, respectively, in passenger numbers for the month.
Smaller UK airline Flybe said on Monday its October passenger figure was up 21.2 percent.
Analysts said Air France, Germany's Lufthansa and Spain's Iberia are also set to report solid rises in fares and passenger numbers later this month.
Alitalia, which is preparing a capital increase to stave off a possible bankruptcy, is due to report third-quarter figures later on Monday.
Full-service airlines have been raising fuel surcharges throughout the year after the price of oil hit record highs above $70 in August.
Low-cost carriers such as Ryanair, which do not have fuel surcharges, say the increases have allowed them to lift their own fares but this has not discouraged travellers from flying.