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12 Largest and Busiest Airports in Europe - With Images

There are many big airports in Europe, and they tend to get very busy, as they are very well connected to all destinations all over the world. Here is the list of Europe's Largest and Busiest Airports in 2023.

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By Amir

Published: May 26, 20235 min read

12 Largest and Busiest Airports in Europe - With Images

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

RankAirportCountryLand Size (hectares)Estimated Passenger Traffic
1Charles de Gaulle AirportFrance3,25722.7 million
2Madrid-Barajas AirportSpain3,05017.1 million
3Istanbul Atatürk AirportTurkey1,94423.4 million
4Barcelona-El Prat AirportSpain1,93617.5 million
5Frankfurt AirportGermany1,36618.8 million
6Heathrow AirportUnited Kingdom1,22720.6 million
7Amsterdam Airport SchipholNetherlands1,12520.9 million
8Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas AirportSpain1,05017.1 million
9Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino AirportItaly1,00014.5 million
10Istanbul AirportTurkey76025.4 million
11Munich AirportGermany73511.7 million
12Vienna International AirportAustria6607.8 million

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Largest and Busiest Airports in Europe

Charles de Gaulle Airport

Charles de Gaulle Airport is the biggest airport in Europe based on its land size and the third based on its estimated passenger traffic after Istanbul Atatürk Airport and Istanbul Airport. 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.

Also, it is interesting to know that France also hosts the biggest Hotel in Europe.

Click and book your hotel in France here.

Charles de Gaulle Paris airport terminal

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.

Click and book your hotel in Spain here.

madrid barajas airport

Istanbul Atatürk Airport

Istanbul Atatürk Airport is the biggest airport in Turkey and has been open since 1924. However, in 2019, Istanbul new 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.

Click and book your hotel in Istanbul here.

Istanbul Atatürk Airport

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.

Located in Catalonia, this airport is the biggest and busiest airport here.

Head out to Skyscanner for the easiest way to find flights.

Click and book your hotel near Barcelona airport.

Barcelona-El Prat Airport

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.

Click and book your hotel near Frankfurt airport.

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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?

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Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

Seventh on our list and the first 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.

Click and book your hotel near Amsterdam airport.

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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.

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Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport

Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport is the only airport in Italy that has made it to the biggest airport in Europe. It is 1,000 hectares big and has an estimated 14.5 million passengers in traffic. 

The airport is about 25 km (16 miles) from Rome and is linked to the city by many means of transportation. 

Find and book your hotel in Italy.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

Here is the list of the 12 Largest and Busiest Airports in Europe. Got any questions? Leave us a comment below…

Find and Book your Hotel near Vienna Airport.

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May 26, 2023

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