Biggest Airport in Europe in 2027: 11 Airports by Size and Traffic

Here is the list of the Largest and Busiest Airports in Europe

Largest and Busiest Airports in Europe

Charles de Gaulle Airport

Charles de Gaulle covers more land than any other airport in Europe and is one of the busiest by estimated passenger traffic. This airport is considered to be one of the busiest and biggest airports in the world as well.

Some of the airlines operating from this airport are Air Canada and Lufthansa.

Interesting to know that although this airport is the biggest in Europe, it is still 1/4 of Denver International Airport, which is the biggest airport in the US.

Madrid-Barajas Airport

Madrid-Barajas Airport is the biggest airport in Spain, covering an area of 3,050 hectares. This airport has an estimated passenger traffic of 17.1 million per year.

The airport has four passenger terminals, an Executive terminal, an air cargo area, and two main hangar areas.

Istanbul Atatürk Airport

Istanbul Atatürk Airport is the biggest airport in Turkey and has been open since 1924. However, in 2019, the new Istanbul Airport opened, and all the passenger flights were transferred from this airport to the new one.

Nowadays, this airport operates as a general aviation and freight airport.

If you are having a long flight, make sure to check our Top 10 Long Haul Flight Essentials.

Barcelona-El Prat Airport

Barcelona-El Prat Airport is the fourth biggest airport on our list and the second biggest in Spain. This airport has a land size of 1,936 hectares and an estimated passenger traffic of 17.5 million per year.

It is the biggest and busiest airport in Catalonia.

Frankfurt Airport

Frankfurt Airport is the biggest airport in Germany, with 1,366 hectares and an estimated passenger traffic of 18.8 million per year.

Frankfurt airport is the biggest hub for Lufthansa Airlines.

Heathrow Airport

Heathrow Airport is the biggest airport in the United Kingdom, with 1,227 hectares of land. This airport is also one of the busiest airports in Europe, and in some years, it has become the busiest. It has an estimated passenger traffic of 20.6 million per year.

Heathrow Airport has many different restaurants and cafes for passengers to choose from.

Do you know which Airline offers the most comfortable economy seat?

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

Seventh on our list and the biggest airport in the Netherlands is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. This airport occupies 1,125 hectares of land and is one of the busiest in Europe, with 20.9 million passenger traffic.

Alongside Heathrow Airport, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is considered to be one of the busiest airports in Europe, especially considering its size.

Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport

There are three airports from Spain on the list, and the third one is Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport. This airport is 1,050 hectares big and has an estimated 17.1 million passengers in traffic. 

The airport has four passenger terminals, an Executive terminal, an air cargo area, and two main hangar areas.

Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport

Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport is the only airport in Italy on this list of Europe’s biggest airports. It is 1,000 hectares big and has an estimated 14.5 million passengers in traffic.

The airport is about 30 km (19 miles) from Rome and is linked to the city by many means of transportation.

Istanbul Airport

Istanbul Airport might not be the biggest airport in Europe, but it has the most passenger traffic yearly, which is estimated to be around 25.4 million.

Istanbul Airport serves more than 350 domestic and international destinations in 110 countries, while its duty-free area is one of the largest (if not the largest) worldwide. 

Munich Airport

Munich Airport is the second biggest airport in Germany after Frankfurt Airport. With 735 hectares of land, it is almost half of the size of Frankfurt airport, and with 11.7 million passengers, it has half the passengers.

The airport is located 28.5 km (17.7 mi) northeast of Munich, near the town of Freising, and is also a hub for Lufthansa Airlines.

Vienna International Airport

Vienna International Airport is the smallest airport on our list, but it is still one of the biggest in Europe. With 660 hectares and 7.8 million passengers, it is the biggest airport in Austria.

Which European Airports Are the Largest and the Busiest?

The airports on the list rank differently by land and by passengers.

• Largest by land — Charles de Gaulle covers 3,257 hectares, more than any other airport on the list.
• Most passengers — Istanbul Airport carries more passengers each year than any other airport here.
• Lufthansa hubs — Frankfurt and Munich, the two German airports on the list, both serve as hubs for Lufthansa.
• Freight and private flights — Istanbul Atatürk Airport moved its passenger flights to Istanbul Airport in 2019 and now handles general aviation and cargo.

If you plan to fly into one of these airports, check what that flight usually costs before you book. RatePunk keeps track of what flights from your home airport usually cost, and we alert you when one drops below that price.

See Flight Deals from Your Home Airport