The first three positions in the ranking of European airports with the highest traffic growth in 2016 are occupied by airports in Romania, according to data from the Airports Council International Europe – ACI Europe.
First place is held by Oradea International Airport with a 487.7% increase in passenger numbers in 2016, followed by Iasi Airport with a 131.3% increase and Aurel Vlaicu International Airport with a 121.8% increase.
The ranking continues with Ostend Airport in Belgium with a 64.5% increase, and Palanga (Lithuania) and Kharkiv (Ukraine) airports, each with a 60.1% increase in passenger traffic.
All six airports are classified by ACI Europe in the final group of airports based on traffic. In the case of the three Romanian airports, the number of passengers does not exceed 47,000 per year.
Among the large European airports, transited by over 25 million passengers annually, Dublin recorded the highest percentage increase in passenger numbers, at 11.5%, followed closely by Barcelona with 11.2%, Amsterdam-Schiphol with 9.2%, Copenhagen with 9.1%, and Madrid with 7.7%.
The busiest European airport in 2016 was London Heathrow Airport, with 75.7 million passengers, followed by Paris Charles de Gaulle with 65.9 million passengers and Amsterdam Schiphol with 63.6 million passengers.
At the continental level, passenger traffic exceeded 2 billion people for the first time, up 5.1% compared to the previous year. The highest percentage increase in passenger numbers was recorded in Iceland (+40.4%), followed by Romania (+23.8%) and Ukraine (+23.3%).
Source: Economica
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Romanian airport saw the highest growth in 2016?
Oradea International Airport recorded the highest growth in Europe within its category, with a 487.7% increase in passenger numbers.
How did Romania rank in overall European air traffic growth?
Romania ranked second in Europe for overall air traffic growth in 2016, with a 23.8% increase, following Iceland.
What were the busiest European airports in 2016?
London Heathrow led with 75.7 million passengers, followed by Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol.