New data from Airports Council International (ACI) Europe confirms that London Heathrow remains Europe’s busiest airport. Heathrow kept its number-one position from 2015, handling more than 75.7 million passengers last year — about a 1 percent increase compared with 2015.
Key findings from ACI Europe include summaries of the busiest airports, the fastest-growing airports, and the countries that recorded the largest passenger growth.
Busiest Airports
London Heathrow: 75.7 million, 1 percent growth
Paris Charles de Gaulle: 65.9 million, 0.3 percent growth
Amsterdam Schiphol: 63.6 million, 9.2 percent growth
Frankfurt Airport: 60.8 million, -0.4 percent growth
Istanbul Atatürk Airport: 60.0 million, -2.1 percent growth
Fastest-growing Airports
Oradea, Romania (OMR): 488 percent growth
Bucharest, Romania (BBU): 122 percent growth
Ostend, Belgium (OST): 65 percent growth
Palanga, Lithuania (PLQ): 60 percent growth
Countries with the Largest Passenger Growth
Iceland: 40 percent
Romania: 24 percent
Ukraine: 23 percent
Bulgaria: 22 percent
Cyprus: 18 percent
The ACI Europe data highlights both the dominant hubs that continue to attract the highest passenger volumes and the rapid expansion seen at smaller regional airports. While major airports such as London Heathrow and Paris Charles de Gaulle maintain high throughput, airports like Amsterdam Schiphol also posted notable year-on-year increases. At the same time, some traditional hubs experienced slight declines.
Regional trends show particularly strong growth across parts of Northern and Eastern Europe. Iceland recorded the largest national growth rate, reflecting rising tourism and broader connectivity gains. Romania’s airports, including Oradea and Bucharest, stand out for substantial percentage increases, driven by new routes and expanding carrier activity.
These figures can help industry stakeholders, travelers, and policymakers understand shifting travel patterns and infrastructure needs across Europe. For detailed statistics and the full ACI Europe report, consult the official ACI Europe report or data release.