Space-A travelers to Europe are adjusting to a new reality. As of October 2025, five Patriot Express (PE) routes have ended, including flights between Naval Station (NS) Norfolk and locations in Spain, Italy, and Greece.
The PE, aka “the rotator,” is a Department of Defense-contracted commercial flight operated by civilian airlines. It’s designed to move service members and their families between the US and overseas duty stations. Unoccupied seats are released to Space-A travelers, who like to “hop” these missions because the rotators have predictable schedules and passenger-friendly amenities.
With these PE routes ending, the question becomes: what should Europe-bound Space-A passengers do in light of the changes?
Here are three key steps to help you adjust your Space-A travel strategy.
New to Space-A ? Read this Quickstart Guide first to get a basic understanding of how it works.
1. Prepare to fly Space-A on a cargo flight.
This is the most important implication of those PE cancellations for anyone who wants to fly Space-A to, from, or within Europe. The key to flying Space-A is flexibility, and your readiness to hop a cargo aircraft (aka “gray tail”) is more important than ever.
Elimination of those PE routes does not impact the affected locations’ cargo missions, which are now your primary way to access bases in the Mediterranean. Also, while the PE from BWI to Ramstein is still running, you need additional options (more on that in the next section).
Action Items:
- Understand what to expect on each type of military aircraft. This guide explains how passengers board, where they sit, the in-flight experience, and even the lavatory situation on a C-17, C-5, KC-135, and other airframes you’re likely to encounter when flying Space-A.
- Use our Space-A packing list: It explains what to wear and what to bring in your carry-on to stay warm and comfortable during the flight.
- Invest in a lightweight, inflatable sleeping pad. We highlight the most important features for Space-A travel and recommend the sleeping pad we use after 10+ years of “hopping” military cargo aircraft.
2. Expect more competition for flights to Ramstein.
Space-A to Rota is still restricted. Cargo missions directly from the U.S. to Italy and Greece are rare. Flights to RAF Mildenhall and other bases in the UK are also sporadic. That makes Ramstein the most accessible base in Europe.
Although the PE from BWI to Ramstein continues, the October 2025 schedule reflected reduced frequency compared to the previous few months. Air Mobility Command (AMC) may ramp up those flights again for PCS season next summer, but it’s likely the current pace will hold through spring.
More demand and fewer flights mean increased competition for seats on that PE route, which was already very competitive.
You can also expect more competition for seats on cargo aircraft to Ramstein now that it’s the easiest base in Europe to reach.
Action Items:
- Learn which bases fly most often to Ramstein. This article also explains logistics at Ramstein, including lodging, local transportation, and access to base services.
- Submit your Space-A signup as early as possible. With increased competition, it’s even more important to have an early signup date. (Here are signup tips especially for Category 6 passengers).
- Monitor lower-traffic passenger terminals. This article explains how to find the military passenger terminal directory and view flight schedules for terminals that post them on their AMC web page or on Facebook. Some terminals have infrequent flights to Europe, and if you can travel on very short notice, you can often get seats, because there’s little competition.
- Explore Reserve and Air National Guard (ANG) bases near you. Some of these locations have periodic missions open to Space-A passengers but don’t post schedules online. Start by calling to ask if they participate in the Space-A program (contact info is in the passenger terminal directory referenced above). Some terminals share flight schedules via phone, but you will usually gather more intel by visiting in person. Stop by to find out where the terminal has flights and how often. They might even inform you of missions more than 72 hours in advance, but often that information in only shared in person.
3. Master the art of “hopping.”
Part of the flexibility required when flying Space-A is a willingness to “take the first thing smokin’.” That means taking the first flight headed in your direction. You might need to take multiple hops (or incorporate other transportation) to get where you’re going.
For example, if you’re on the West Coast, you could fly Space-A from JB Lewis-McChord (JBLM) or Travis AFB to Dover AFB and then hop to Ramstein from there. Both JBLM and Travis have occasional flights directly to Europe, but I don’t recommend waiting around for one.
Also, those bases in Spain, Italy, and Greece, that were easily accessible via PE are now trickier to reach. As noted above, flights directly from the States to those locations are rare, but it’s possible to hop there from Ramstein. They are all Navy bases and have frequent flights between them, so if you can reach one, getting to the others is usually straightforward.
Action Items:
- Use our go-to strategies for Space-A planning. Learn how to choose a departure point, combine hops with commercial travel, and prepare for last-minute changes.
- Map out possible flight paths. Knowing “who flies where” helps you build multi-leg routes and avoid getting stuck along the way.
Bottom line: the end of a few Patriot Express routes is not the end of Space-A to Europe, and it should not derail your travel plans! We flew Space-A for more than six years, including hops to and from Europe, Hawaii, and Japan, before ever taking a PE.
Stay flexible, get the right gear, and learn how to plan two steps ahead so you can keep your adventures going. We hope to see you on a hop soon!
Related Reading:
- See the full list of remaining PE routes and schedules.
- Read United States Transportation Command’s press relase about the recent PE route closures.
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.