Europe's largest airports - airport ranking 2025
European airports are undergoing dynamic changes. We present the current ranking of the largest airports in Europe, taking into account both passenger and cargo traffic. As a company Slawa Trans specializing in international transportation, we constantly monitor the development of key airline hubs.
TOP 10 largest airports in Europe 2025
1 Istanbul Airport (IST)
- Passenger traffic: more than 76 million passengers per year
- State-of-the-art 1.4 million m² terminal
- 6 runways
- 35 km from the city center
- A major hub connecting Europe to Asia
2. London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
- Serves 72 million passengers
- 4 modern terminals
- Britain's largest airport
- Expanded infrastructure cargo
- 24 km from central London
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3. Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
- 69 million passengers served
- Three main terminals
- A key cargo hub in Europe
- 25 km from the center of Paris
- Automated transport system between terminals
4. Schiphol Amsterdam Airport (AMS)
- 65 million travelers per year
- One terminal with six piers
- Biggest air cargo in the Netherlands
- 9 km southwest of the center
- Integrated with the high-speed rail network
5. Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- 64 million passengers
- Four passenger terminals
- Largest cargo hub in Germany
- Advanced logistics infrastructure
- Own long-distance railroad station
Cargo at European airports
The ranking of cargo airports is as follows:
- Frankfurt (FRA) - 2.3 million tons
- Charles de Gaulle (CDG) - 2.1 million tons
- Schiphol (AMS) - 1.8 million tons
- Heathrow (LHR) - 1.7 million tons
- Istanbul (IST) - 1.5 million tons
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Infrastructure development 2025
The largest airports are investing in:
- Automation of passenger service
- Expansion of cargo terminals
- Air traffic management systems
- Sustainable technologies
- Intermodal transport links
Trends in European aviation
Technology
- Biometric passenger check-in
- Autonomous vehicles on the tarmac
- Artificial intelligence in traffic management
- Digitalization of cargo handling
Sustainability
- Electric ground vehicles
- Reduction of CO2 emissions
- Use of renewable energy
- Waste recycling
FAQ
Which airport is the largest in Europe in 2025?
Istanbul Airport maintains its leadership position, handling more than 76 million passengers a year.
Where does Chopin Airport rank in Europe?
Warsaw airport is among the third ten largest airports in Europe.
What is the largest cargo airport in Europe?
Frankfurt remains the largest cargo hub in Europe.
External sources:
Q: What are the largest airports in Europe in terms of passenger traffic in 2023?
A: The ranking of Europe's largest airports in terms of passenger traffic in 2023 includes Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport, London's Heathrow Airport, Frankfurt am Main Airport, Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport and Madrid's Barajas Airport, among others. These airports handle millions of passengers a year and are among the largest hubs in Europe.
Q: Are Polish airports among the largest airports in Europe?
A: Although Polish airports are not among the top 5 in Europe, Warsaw Chopin Airport is the largest Polish airport and one of the most important airports in Central and Eastern Europe. In 2022, the airport handled more than 14 million passengers, showing its growing importance in regional air traffic.
Q: How has the pandemic affected passenger traffic at Europe's largest airports?
A: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on global air traffic, including Europe's major airports. There was a significant drop in passenger numbers in 2020 and 2021. However, from 2022 onward, there has been a gradual recovery in passenger traffic, although many airports still have not reached pre-pandemic levels.
Q: Which airport in Europe handles the most international flights?
A: London Heathrow Airport is one of the busiest airports in Europe in terms of international flights. It offers flights to more than 200 destinations in some 80 countries, making it a key hub for international flights in Europe.
Q: What is the importance of Madrid's Barajas Airport for air traffic in Europe?
A: Madrid's Barajas Airport is one of the largest and busiest airports in Europe. It is the main hub for flights between Europe and Latin America, handling millions of passengers a year. The airport plays a key role in intercontinental flights and is an important part of the European aviation network.
Q: Which of Europe's largest airports handles the most air cargo?
A: Frankfurt/Main Airport is one of Europe's leaders in air cargo handling. It is an important logistics center that handles huge volumes of air cargo, making it a key component of the European and global transport networks commodity.
Q: How did the ranking of Europe's largest airports change between 2022 and 2023?
A: The ranking of Europe's largest airports between 2022 and 2023 underwent some changes, mainly due to the gradual recovery of air traffic after the pandemic. Some airports, such as Heathrow in London and Charles de Gaulle in Paris, maintained their high positions, while others may have experienced changes in ranking depending on the pace of recovery in individual countries and regions.
The future of European airports
Projections for the next few years indicate:
- Increase in passenger traffic
- Development of air cargo
- Further automation of processes
- Increasing terminal capacity
As a Slawa Trans company, we offer comprehensive shipping services, working with the largest airports in Europe. Contact us, to learn more about our logistics solutions.
