Airports in Europe

Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS) is located 4.3 miles (7km) north of Portugal’s capital and is a pleasant introduction to this historic city.

With daily flights to Lisbon Portela Airport from all over the world, it is one of the largest airports in Southern Europe and acts as the main gateway to Portugal’s many attractions. Recent improvements include a second terminal, additional lighting and baggage claim refurbishment.

Lisbon Portela offers a number of shopping and dining options in its original terminal, although there's less choice in the new terminal. At about ten minutes on foot, getting from gates to baggage claims and immigration can be a tiring affair. Check-in desks are sometimes disorganized, often resulting in long queues and frustrated passengers.

Overall, the airport is clean and modern, and with plans to develop the airport over the next few years, it can only get better.  

On average, 49 million travellers a year make their way through Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD), Spain's main gateway. Conveniently close to the city centre, it is easily accessible by rail or road.

Flights to Madrid Barajas Airport come in from major hubs around the world. Acting as the main bridge between Europe and Latin America, Madrid Barajas Airport places emphasis on speed, efficiency and traveller comfort, and uses the latest technology to facilitate a smoother, more enjoyable journey.

A big part of the running of Barajas Airport is the careful monitoring of the facility’s environmental impact. The airport is run in accordance with Aena Aeropuertos’ environmental quality policy so that its activity stays within regulations. Employees, companies and users all regularly participate in awareness campaigns that examine the facilities and their impact on the airport’s natural surroundings. A ground-breaking and forward-thinking facility, Barajas Airport is as efficient as it is eco-friendly.

Barcelona International Airport (BCN) is generally known as El Prat Airport. It is located 8 miles (12km) outside of Barcelona and is the second-largest airport in Spain. Its close proximity to Barcelona makes El Prat a great airport from where to start a Spanish break.

The airport caters for tourists and locals alike with a great selection of shops and duty free items. The El Prat Airport receives most of its flights from other European airports and a couple from airports in North Africa. The terminal is easy to navigate and staff at the airport are always willing to help.

El Prat is popular with low-cost airlines and it is a hub for Ryanair, Spanair and Vueling. Iberia and Air Europa have regular flights to and from El Prat Airport and it is easy to find domestic, European and charter flights to Barcelona El Prat Airport. Several major carriers choose to use El Prat (British Airways, American Airlines, Air Canada) and most flights to the Canary Islands, Granada and the Balearic Islands either stop-over or originate from Barcelona Airport.

George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD) is a mere 3 miles (5km) from central Belfast, Northern Ireland’s largest city (second only to Dublin in size). The airport was renamed in 2006 in honour of George Best, the legendary footballer from Belfast, who played for Manchester United.

Flights to George Best Belfast City Airport arrive from the UK and major cities in France and Spain. Annually, the airport sees more than 3 million passengers.

Despite the small size of the airport (a single runway) the airport is well-kept and efficient and staff are friendly. However, the parking here is notoriously expensive so use the public transport options if possible. 

Belfast International Airport is situated just 13 miles (21km) northwest of Belfast, Northern Ireland’s capital. It’s Ireland’s second-busiest airport, after Dublin. The airport is the gateway to Northern Ireland and Belfast, a city steeped in a rich and once troubled history.

Belfast International Airport was originally named the Aldergrove Airport after a nearby village. In 1983, it became Belfast International Airport. With the passing of the Troubles, Belfast – and Northern Ireland – has been working hard to establish itself as a tourist destination.

One way of making its mark for tourists is by housing popular low-cost carriers such as Thomson Airways, Jet2.com, easyJet, Thomas Cook Airlines and Aer Lingus. Belfast is becoming increasingly popular as a weekend break and cheap flights to Belfast International Airport can be booked on most European carriers, but particularly on the low-cost airlines.

The Guardian/Observer Travel Awards placed Belfast in the top five best cities for a break. Belfast Airport is the ideal gateway to a relaxing and rewarding holiday in Northern Ireland.

Also known as Roissy Airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is located 16 miles (25km) outside of the famous City of Lights. Among the busiest airports in the world, Charles de Gaulle processes an astounding 58 million passengers each year.

With the lure of Parisian glamour drawing millions from across the world, Charles de Gaulle is where most vacations in France begin and end. Flights to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport are available from almost everywhere, including London, New York, Beijing, Johannesburg, Moscow, Berlin, Toronto, Sydney, Dublin, Delhi, Mauritius, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Chicago, Rome, Seoul, Hong Kong, Geneva, Cairo, Rio de Janeiro and Dubai. There are also many local flight connections to other, smaller French airports.

Sleek and gleaming, Paris Charles de Gaulle airport is every inch the sophisticated experience you’d expect from such a chic city. High-tech video lounges and PlayStation areas are sprinkled between haute couture boutiques and stylish restaurants. The airport staff are friendly and helpful, and their excellent English makes travelling to and from Paris a pleasant experience for anyone.

Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (ATH), otherwise known as Athens International, is a two-terminal airport, gateway to a country rich with history and tourism options. It is just 12 miles (20km) east of Athens’ city centre, the perfect destination for travellers who want to discover popular ancient Greek sites such as the Acropolis and Plaka, or for those using the city as a stop-off point before exploring the islands of Greece.

There’s plenty to do at Athens Airport, which offers a range of world-class shopping opportunities as well as a host of local souvenirs and mementos. The airport has won two awards for best airport in Southern Europe and is an important link between Europe and Asia.

Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport is a major hub for Greece’s national carrier Olympic Air as well as Aegean Airlines. With austerity measures being the catchphrase across Greece and much of Europe it’s good to know that there are many low-cost carriers and budget airlines that offer cheap flights to Athens International Airport, including Blue1, easyJet, Fly Hellas, Aer Lingus and IZair.

Athens International Airport is well-connected to central Athens by rail and road networks and is the perfect start to a fun vacation in Greece. This Greek airport has also been awarded two Green Building Awards for energy efficiency and awareness, so travellers wanting to reduce their carbon footprint can sleep easy knowing Athens International Airport is doing its bit.

Frankfurt International (FRA) is one of the busiest airports in Europe, a continental hub for many major airlines. More than 50 million passengers arrive on flights to Frankfurt Airport each year. The stylish terminals have plenty to keep travellers occupied on long stopovers - restaurants, shops, slots or video games, sightseeing tours and a Visitors' Terrace with views of the runways.

In 2009, a beautiful Shopping Plaza was added to Terminal 2, and construction is underway on a third terminal and fourth runway.

Located 17.7 miles (28.5 km) north-east of the centre of Munich, Munich International Airport (MUC) is officially known as Franz Josef Strauss. It is Germany’s second-busiest airport and the seventh-busiest in Europe. In 2010, it handled almost 35 million passengers. In 2011 the airport was awarded the title of “Europe’s Best Airport” (for the sixth time since 2005) and ranked fourth best in the world by air transport research company Skytrax.

The airport comprises two terminals connected by the Munich Airport Centre, a large outdoor tent-type area that accommodates most of the facilities, including a vast array of retail, business and recreational establishments. There is also a Visitors Park which features a Visitors Hill from which sightseers may view Terminal 1 and the westerly aircraft apron. Plans to expand Terminal 2, approved in 2010, will see Munich International’s handling capacity increase by 11 million passengers per year.

With a combination of world-class facilities and efficient services, it’s no surprise that Munich International is ranked among the finest in the world. Clean and modern – it even has its own brewery – with friendly and helpful staff, visitors may look forward to experiencing nothing less than the best from Munich International.