The number of air travels in Europe is increasing year by year, so the need for quality airports is greater than ever. Besides the friendliness and efficiency of employees, tourists pay attention to the variety of services, shops and relaxation areas, ease of movement between terminals, or the visibility of signs. IMOPEDIA.ro presents the most appreciated European airports in 2016, according to the annual World Airport Awards conducted by Skytrax.
10 Vienna International Airport10. Vienna (VIE)
Annual passenger count: 22.8 million
Located 20 kilometers from the heart of Vienna, Vienna International Airport was initially built as a military airport, being inaugurated in 1938. Currently, its largest tenants include Austrian Airlines, NIKI and Eurowings. According to Skytrax, the Austrian airport is appreciated by passengers for being compact, clean and having a good internet connection.
9 Barcelona El Prat Airport9. Barcelona (BCN)
Annual passenger count: 39.7 million
Located 12 kilometers from the center of Barcelona, El Prat was opened in 1918. Due to the expanding tourism industry, it has become, in the last two decades, one of the busiest European airports, with a continuously growing number of passengers (+5.7% compared to the previous year). Tourists gave maximum points to dining options and the shopping offer, but complained about long waiting times.
8 Koln Bonn Airport8. Cologne / Bonn (CGN)
Annual passenger count: 10.3 million
Opened in 1913, but initially used only for military aircraft, Cologne Bonn Airport is only in 7th place nationally in terms of passenger numbers and 3rd place in terms of freight transport. According to the survey, tourists appreciate the airport’s modern architecture, high degree of cleanliness and efficient terminal buildings.
7 Copenhagen Airport7. Copenhagen (CPH)
Annual passenger count: 26.6 million
The largest airport in Northern Europe was opened in 1925, being among the first civilian airports in the world. Appreciated by passengers for the clarity of signs and the efficiency of facilities, Copenhagen Airport had nearly 25 million foreign tourists last year, while domestic flights had 1.6 million customers.
6 Helsinki Airport6. Helsinki-Vantaa (HEL)
Annual passenger count: 20.1 million
Located 20 kilometers from the Finnish capital, Helsinki-Vantaa Airport was built for the 1952 Summer Olympics. Today, 20,000 people work here and there are about 1,500 companies operating in this airport. Helsinki Airport is appreciated by travelers especially for the diversity of options to spend waiting time: either by visiting an art gallery or the aviation museum, with a book in the dedicated reading center, or at one of the terraces with a superb view.
5 Amsterdam Schiphol Airport5. Amsterdam Schiphol
Annual passenger count: 55 million
Inaugurated a century ago as a military base, the most important Dutch airport is less than 10 kilometers from Amsterdam. In terms of passenger numbers, it ranks fifth at the European level. A base for major airlines such as KLM, Transavia or Delta, Schiphol is appreciated by tourists especially for the variety of relaxation areas.
4 Frankfurt Airport4. Frankfurt (FRA)
Annual passenger count: 59.6 million
One of the most important transit hubs in the world, Frankfurt Airport ranks fourth in Europe in terms of passenger numbers (and 12th globally). Opened to the public in 1936, the largest German airport is located 12 kilometers from Frankfurt city center. According to visitors, the great advantage of this airport is the ease of movement between terminals, despite its size, as well as the abundance of shops and restaurants.
3 London Heathrow Airport3. London Heathrow (LHR)
Annual passenger count: 74.9 million
Today’s busiest airport in Europe was opened in 1929 as a small airfield. Located 22 kilometers from the heart of London, the airport is the headquarters for aviation giants such as British Airways or Virgin Atlantic. A departure point for nearly 200 international destinations, Heathrow had its busiest international routes in 2015 with New York (3.05 million passengers), Dubai (2.45 million passengers) and Dublin (1.68 million passengers).
2 Zurich Airport2. Zurich (ZRH)
Annual passenger count: 26.3 million
Known as Kloten, the largest Swiss airport began to be used in 1921, when the first flight from Switzerland took place. Located 13 kilometers from the center of Zurich, it is the home of Swiss Air Lines. For passengers with long layovers, the airport offers the possibility of renting a bicycle or pairs of roller skates, as well as excursions to the Swiss Museum of Transport.
1 Munich Airport1. Munich (MUC)
Annual passenger count: 41 million
The second-largest German airport in terms of passenger numbers, Munich Airport was put into service in 1992. For its construction, authorities demolished a small village and relocated about 500 people who lived there. The airport is a significant hub for companies such as Air Berlin, Lufthansa or Condor, and flights depart from here to nearly 230 destinations in 66 countries. Passengers placed it in first place for its airy architecture, with a design where glass is predominant, cleanliness and the friendliness of the employees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which was the best airport in Europe in 2016?
Munich Airport (MUC) was named the best European airport in 2016, praised for its modern architecture, cleanliness, and staff friendliness.
Which is the busiest airport in Europe according to this list?
London Heathrow (LHR) is the busiest on the list, recording approximately 74.9 million annual passengers and serving nearly 200 destinations.
What unique facilities does Zurich Airport offer for long layovers?
Zurich Airport offers passengers the option to rent bicycles or roller skates and organizes excursions to the Swiss Museum of Transport.