Routes World Awards 2025: The Airport Finalists

Thirty organizations and 10 individuals are being recognized in this year’s edition of the Routes World 2025 Awards, taking place in Hong Kong.

Nine awards are up for grabs this year, including four airport accolades that highlight the organizations that have excelled in route development marketing. Split into categories of Under 5 Million, 5-10 Million, 10-20 Million and Over 20 Million, they showcase the marketing support that airports have provided to their airline partners.

The Destination Award champions the assistance provided by destinations to their airline partners, while the Airline Award celebrates the importance of partnership in achieving successful and profitable routes.

There will also be two individual awards—the Rising Star Award and the Individual Leadership Award—as well as an Overall Winner, selected from the list of winners.

The Airport and Destination categories have been reviewed and scored by a panel of airline judges. The Individual Leadership, Rising Star and Airline categories have been reviewed and scored by a panel of editorial judges.

Today we profile the finalists from the four airport categories, with the shortlists for the Destination, Airline, Rising Star and Individual Leadership categories featuring tomorrow. The winners will be announced on Sept. 25 during the Networking Evening.

More News And Analysis From Routes World 2025

The shortlists are as follows:

UNDER 5 MILLION AWARD

Albrecht Dürer Airport Nürnberg, Germany

With 24 airlines serving 63 nonstop destinations, Nuremberg Airport (NUE) has emerged as one of Germany’s fastest-recovering airports, reaching 98% of pre-pandemic traffic in 2024—13.4% above the national average—and projecting 109% in 2025. Four new airlines have joined since 2019, including new base carrier Marabu, while 14 new destinations were added in the past year alone. Passenger volumes rose 8.2% year over year, driven by strong growth from carriers such as Marabu (+81%) and Wizz Air (+63%). NUE’s innovative “Blue Ocean” incentive program, including Germany’s first Winter Connectivity Bonus, has attracted 14 airline partners with tailored support for new routes, based aircraft and seasonal resilience.

Cork Airport, Ireland

Cork Airport (ORK) recorded a 37% increase in passenger numbers between 2022 and 2024, reaching 3.1 million passengers last year. Traffic is set to grow by a further 10% in 2025—making this its busiest year on record. Serving more than 50 routes across the UK and Europe, ORK has added 23 new routes since 2022, including Bilbao, Bordeaux, Corfu, Izmir, Prague and Geneva in 2025 alone. The airport plays a vital role in regional connectivity, contributing more than €1 billion ($1.2 billion) to the Irish economy and supporting 12,000 jobs. Route growth has been underpinned by innovative marketing initiatives such as the “Hub Connectivity” campaign and the 2025 “Hinterland” campaign.

Halifax Stanfield International Airport, Canada

Projected to serve 4.2 million passengers in 2025, Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) has not only achieved full traffic recovery but also expanded its international footprint to record levels. Now offering 48 destinations across 18 airlines, YHZ added eight new routes this year, including four in Europe—Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris and Zurich—driving a 25% increase in transatlantic capacity. Transborder capacity also rose 14% through added frequencies, larger aircraft and the launch of Chicago service. Compared with 2019, European seat capacity is up 119%. YHZ’s incentive programs, capacity growth agreements and marketing campaigns—ranging from billboards in Zurich to Stroopwaffles in the terminal—ensure strong airline partnerships.

London Southend Airport, UK

London Southend Airport (SEN) has enjoyed an impressive recovery, reclaiming a three-aircraft easyJet base in 2024 and driving 250% year-over-year passenger growth between 2023 and 2024. With six new easyJet routes launching for winter 2025-26, the airport is once again among the UK’s and Europe’s fastest growing. SEN’s strategy is built on data-driven business cases, flexible incentive structures and keeping costs among the lowest in London. It says its proposition is also built on cost leadership and flexibility: As airport operator, ground handler, fueling provider, ATC operator and rail station manager, it offers airlines a streamlined, value-driven model. Business cases are tailored to airline needs, supported by bespoke incentive packages and joint marketing.

5-10 MILLION PASSENGERS

Adelaide Airport, Australia

Adelaide Airport (ADL) achieved record passenger traffic in fiscal 2025, welcoming 8.7 million travelers. United Airlines will launch the airport’s first-ever nonstop service to the U.S. in December 2025, connecting to San Francisco, while Qantas returns to international operations from Adelaide for the first time since 2013 with new Auckland flights. Emirates has chosen Adelaide as the global launch port for its Airbus A350LR fleet, and Air New Zealand will establish the airport’s first sister-city link with Christchurch. Supported by its “SIP” strategy—sustainable growth, tailored incentives and a demand-generation playbook—ADL works in partnership with airlines and stakeholders to ensure long-term market resilience.

Cam Ranh International Airport, Vietnam

Vietnam’s Cam Ranh International Airport (CXR) has 32 international airlines, including new entrants Scoot, Thai VietJet Air and Parata Airlines, alongside the return of major carriers such as Aeroflot, Air Astana and soon Cathay Pacific. South Korea remains a standout market with traffic now 170% above 2019 levels, while Russia is rebounding strongly. The airport’s strategy combines competitive incentives, co-funded destination marketing and data-driven route development to convert charter flights into scheduled services and expand regional connectivity. Tailored support spans government, tourism boards, hotels and commercial partners.

Macau International Airport, China

Macau International Airport (MFM) handled 7.64 million passengers in 2024—a 48% increase year over year—and serving 45 destinations with 32 international airlines. Its recovery has been underpinned by a proactive route development strategy, highlighted by Air Macau’s Guiyang service, Korean Air’s entry from Seoul Incheon and new services from Fly Firefly and Batik Air. The airport has also expanded fifth freedom operations, including Phnom Penh–Macau–Koror, with additional routes under development. Incentive programs remain central to MFM’s strategy, while marketing innovation has also driven growth: A livestream campaign with Tongcheng Travel reached 1.59 million viewers.

Malta International Airport, Malta

Malta International Airport (MLA) continues to deliver sustained growth, welcoming 8.96 million passengers in 2024—a 14.8% year-on-year increase—and forecasting 9.7 million by the end of 2025, nearly double 2014 levels. Now connected to more than 109 destinations, MLA’s network expansion in 2024 included new services such as Basel with easyJet and Norwich with Ryanair. A strategic focus on reducing seasonality has paid dividends, with shoulder-month traffic growing nearly twice as fast as peak summer volumes. Airline partnerships are central to its approach, with collaborative initiatives ranging from cultural route launches to familiarization trips that deepen engagement with Malta as a destination.

Newcastle International Airport, United Kingdom

Newcastle International Airport (NCL) is connected to more than 80 nonstop destinations through 16 airline partners. Passenger volumes have recovered to pre-pandemic levels, with recordbreaking international traffic in 2024-25 and further growth forecast as the airport targets its highest-ever passenger totals in 2026. Recent route development wins include two new airline partners—Norwegian, with strong performance on its Copenhagen route, and Blue Islands for Jersey and Guernsey—alongside 34 new routes and 13 new destinations across its network. Based aircraft grew 31% with three new easyJet aircraft, Jet2.com’s ninth and Ryanair’s third. NCL supports its partners with more than £40 million annually in incentives.

Stuttgart Airport, Germany

Stuttgart Airport (STR) has expanded its network with more than 30 new airlines and 30 new destinations in recent years, connecting to over 40 countries worldwide and diversifying across leisure, business, VFR and ethnic markets. Passenger volumes have rebounded, with leisure and VFR traffic now surpassing pre-pandemic levels, supported by high-demand routes such as Dublin and Dubai, as well as expanded services to Izmir and Bilbao. STR is currently outperforming the German market, recording 4.2% passenger growth year-to-date in 2025 compared with 2.8% nationally and 0.8% among its peer airports. A competitive incentive program—covering seasonal bonuses, fee caps and targeted marketing—supports long-term airline performance.

10-20 MILLION PASSENGERS

Calgary International Airport, Canada

Calgary International Airport (YYC) serves 107 nonstop destinations and expects to handle 19.2 million passengers in 2025, up from 18.9 million in 2024. With 35% of traffic connecting through Calgary, YYC plays a critical role as the primary international gateway for a six-million-strong region. Over the past year, 14 new routes were launched in partnership with four carriers, supported by more than C$4 million ($2.9 million) in marketing funds. YYC’s strategy combines data-driven route selection, tailored incentive packages and cost efficiency through strong non-aeronautical revenue streams. With international routes showing an average 120% stimulation in their first year and traffic now exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 5.5%, YYC continues to deliver sustainable growth.

Edinburgh Airport, Scotland

Edinburgh Airport (EDI) handled 15.8 million passengers in 2024—10% growth year over year—and 16.5 million passengers are forecast in 2025. Since the start of 2024, 24 new routes have been launched with 11 airlines, including Emirates, JetBlue, Luxair and Pegasus. Long-haul growth is a standout, with capacity up 93% versus 2019 and expansion across North America, the Middle East and Asia. JetBlue expanded with Boston and doubled New York JFK capacity, while Air Canada, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Emirates boosted services with frequency increases and new aircraft. Tailored business cases, strong partnerships and impactful campaigns—such as JetBlue’s Fringe sponsorship and Emirates’ Airbus A350 launch—have reinforced EDI’s role as a key hub within the Vinci Airports network.

Indianapolis International Airport, U.S.

Indianapolis International Airport (IND) celebrated the return of transatlantic service in May 2025 with Aer Lingus’ launch of nonstop flights to Dublin. The route was the result of six years of relationship building, data analysis and community engagement, highlighting Indiana’s strong business and cultural ties to Ireland. IND partnered with civic and tourism organizations to generate demand, including activations at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Riverdance performances at city landmarks and a green-carpet showcase at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Rev event. The campaign drew significant media coverage, while early results exceeded expectations with more than 15,000 passengers in summer 2025.

Prague Airport, Czech Republic

Prague Airport (PRG) handled 16.4 million passengers in 2024, an 18% increase on the previous year, and expects traffic to reach 17.8 million in 2025. The airport’s network has expanded to 180 destinations served by 80 airlines, with 27 new routes added in the past 12 months. Recent highlights include Etihad Airways’ launch from Abu Dhabi, Air Canada’s Toronto Pearson service, and Asiana Airlines’ new Seoul Incheon route in June. Air Arabia is also set to begin daily flights from Sharjah in December. Airline marketing and tourism support totaling €7.5 million ($8.9 million) has funded a range of co-branded activities and events with carriers. These have included inaugural flight celebrations, route and airline anniversaries and public transport branding.

San Antonio International Airport, U.S.

San Antonio International Airport (SAT) surpassed 11 million passengers in 2024, its busiest year ever, and is rapidly expanding service in line with regional growth. A key focus is Mexico, where SAT has grown from four destinations pre-pandemic to nine, ranking 12^th in U.S. airports for Mexico capacity and first among medium hubs. The airport supports airlines with a competitive incentive program, expanded digital and out-of-home marketing and strong community partnerships. Roadshows, trade missions and cultural activations, including Fiesta promotions, help drive awareness and demand in both markets. SAT’s strategy is clear: Build sustainable services, retain new routes and deliver long-term success for its airline partners.

OVER 20 MILLION PASSENGERS

Athens International Airport, Greece

Athens International Airport (ATH) delivered record-breaking traffic in 2024 with 31.9 million passengers—25% above pre-pandemic levels. The momentum continues in 2025, with international arrivals up 9.5% year to date, domestic traffic up 2%, and U.S. connectivity expanded to nine destinations with 103 weekly flights, more than double 2019 levels. Fourteen new routes and five new airlines have joined the network this year, alongside 12 service expansions on existing routes. ATH supports growth with €30 million in incentives provided in 2024, further expanded in 2025, including a new sustainability scheme and a 30% facility fee reduction for off-peak operations.

Brussels Airport, Belgium

Brussels Airport (BRU) will reach nearly 25 million passengers in 2025, operating in one of Europe’s most competitive catchment areas, with 68 airlines flying to 185 destinations. Since 2024, eight new airlines—including Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Juneyao Air and Transavia France—have added service, while 15 new destinations were launched across long-haul markets such as Singapore, Nairobi, Shanghai, Bangkok, Atlanta and Hong Kong. A €28 million incentive program underpins route growth, complemented by creative campaigns including social activations, trade roadshows and the BRUcard loyalty platform for 5,000 agents.

Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore

Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) achieved its highest-ever traffic in fiscal 2024-25, handling 68.4 million passengers and 2 million metric tons of airfreight. Over the past year, eight new airlines—including Air Canada, Air Japan, Shandong Airlines and Pelita Air—joined the network, adding 19 new routes such as Brussels, Vancouver, Vienna, London Gatwick and multiple secondary Chinese cities. New services to Chiang Rai, Nha Trang and Ulaanbaatar are set to launch soon. SIN drives route success through creative collaborations with airlines and tourism boards, from cultural showcases for Papua New Guinea and Bhutan to large-scale Indonesian campaigns. Online travel agent partnerships, such as with Ctrip, generated more than 300 million impressions.

Denver International Airport, U.S.

Denver International Airport (DEN) served a record 82.3 million passengers in 2024, up 19% from 2019. In 2025, DEN became the No. 1 U.S. airport for nonstop domestic destinations with 197, while its international network reached 35 cities in 19 countries—both all-time highs. Recent wins include Turkish Airlines’ launch of the airport’s longest route to Istanbul, Aer Lingus’ Dublin service and United’s new nonstop to Rome. Lufthansa introduced A380 operations to Munich, marking the aircraft’s debut at DEN. Five new carriers joined in 2024–25, bringing total airlines to 27, supported by DEN’s Air Carrier Incentive Program. The airport also added 16 new destinations in 2025 alone, including Regina, Punta Cana and Mexico City Felipe Angeles.

Vancouver International Airport, Canada

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) welcomed 26.2 million passengers in 2024, only the second time in its history surpassing 26 million, and expects to exceed 27 million in 2025. Cargo volumes also hit a record 339,000 metric tons, 10% above 2019. YVR’s 51 airlines now connect travelers to 120 destinations, supported by strong seat capacity growth across Asia-Pacific (+17%), Europe (+9%) and transborder markets (+9.4%). In 2024, 10 new routes were added—including Air Canada to Singapore, American Airlines to Charlotte, Flair to Guadalajara and Zipair to Tokyo Narita—alongside the relaunch of Air China’s Beijing service. Route development is underpinned by TeamYVR, a collaborative model with airlines, tourism boards and partners.