Twenty-five airports, five destinations, five airlines and nine individuals are finalists in the Routes World 2026 Awards, alongside five shortlisted routes.
Eleven awards are up for grabs this year, including five airport accolades recognizing excellence in route development marketing and the support airports provide to their airline partners. The categories are Under 5 Million, 5-10 Million, 10-17.5 Million, 17.5-30 Million and Over 30 Million passengers.
New for 2026, the Route of the Year Award celebrates innovative and impactful new route launches. The Destination Award recognizes destinations’ support for airline partners, while the Airline Award highlights the importance of collaboration in developing successful and profitable routes.
Two individual honors—the Rising Star Award and Individual Leadership Award—will also be presented, alongside an Overall Winner selected from the category winners.
The Airport and Destination categories have been reviewed and scored by a panel of airline judges. The Individual Leadership, Rising Star, Airline and Route of the Year categories have been reviewed and scored by a panel of editorial judges.
Today we profile the finalists from the five airport categories, with the remaining shortlists featuring next week. The winners will be announced on Oct. 22 during the Routes World Networking Evening.
More News And Analysis From Routes World 2026
Under 5 Million
Bratislava Airport, Slovakia
Bratislava Airport (BTS) handled a record 2.44 million passengers in 2025, with traffic increasing 108% year over year during January-July 2026. Network expansion included 28 new scheduled routes in 2025 and a further 26 announced for 2026, taking its summer offering to 77 routes across 29 countries. Wizz Air opened a base in November 2025, expanding to four aircraft and 32 routes in 2026, while Ryanair increased its summer network to 33 routes. Catchment analysis identifying passengers using neighboring airports supported tailored airline business cases. A three-year incentive program offered financial benefits of up to 50%, complemented by joint campaigns with tourism partners, online travel agencies and influencers.
Cardiff Airport, Wales
Cardiff Airport (CWL) surpassed 1 million passengers in the year to June 2026, up 16% year over year, supported by new routes and increased airline capacity. WestJet restored nonstop Toronto connectivity after almost two decades, carrying 17,500 passengers during its first 16-week season with an average load factor of 79%. About 70% were inbound visitors from North America. TUI based a fourth aircraft at Cardiff for summer 2026, adding 96,000 seats and routes to Faro and Hurghada, while Ryanair operated its busiest summer schedule at the airport in 12 years. Route development drew on catchment analysis, passenger data and traffic leakage to competing airports.
Cork Airport, Ireland
Cork Airport (ORK) handled a record 3.46 million passengers in 2025, up 13% year over year, marking its second consecutive year of double-digit increases. The airport added 12 routes since 2024, while SunExpress joined its airline portfolio in 2025. Hub connectivity strengthened through Air France’s transition to year-round operations, KLM’s expansion to 3X-daily Amsterdam flights and the restoration of Lufthansa’s Frankfurt service. Airline support combined tailored market analysis, monthly performance reviews and multiyear incentives covering new services and capacity increases. A €200 million ($225 million) capital development program will expand capacity beyond 5 million annual passengers.
Halifax Stanfield International Airport, Canada
Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) projected a record 4.4 million passengers in 2026, up 7% from 2025, alongside a 9% increase in seat capacity. European capacity rose 31%, with new services to Brussels by Air Canada and Copenhagen, Lisbon and Madrid by WestJet. The airport’s network reached 54 destinations, including 36 international markets, served by 15 airlines. Route development combined market intelligence, revenue support and long-term capacity agreements, while an International Connections Facility improved passenger transfers. The airport delivered 38 marketing campaigns supporting eight airlines, working with tourism partners to build demand in Canada and overseas.
Shannon Airport, Ireland
Shannon Airport (SNN) recorded a 12% increase in passengers during the first half of 2026 and forecast full-year traffic 50% above 2019 levels. Its network reached 40 services, the highest total in 17 years, with five new routes and frequency increases across 12 routes secured for 2026. Air Canada’s Toronto service was secured for summer 2027, while Ryanair expanded to four based aircraft in 2025. Route development combined catchment and traffic leakage analysis with independent market assessments and regional stakeholder support. Five-year incentive schemes supported new routes, based aircraft and long-haul operations, including a passenger-based charging structure.
5-10 Million
Adelaide Airport, Australia
Adelaide Airport (ADL) handled a record 9 million passengers in 2025, with international traffic reaching a monthly high of more than 128,000 in January 2026, up 21% year over year. Network additions included United Airlines’ seasonal San Francisco service, China Eastern Airlines’ Shanghai route and Air New Zealand’s Christchurch flights. Cathay Pacific returned to Hong Kong, while China Southern Airlines shifted to year-round operations. Route development combined analysis of passenger demand, fares, traffic leakage and freight opportunities with coordinated support from tourism, government, education and business partners. Marketing initiatives ranged from a Cathay Pacific tram wrap to targeted fare promotions.
Cagliari Airport, Italy
Cagliari Airport (CAG) forecast more than 5.5 million passengers in 2026, approximately 16% above 2019 levels, compared with 5.25 million in 2025. Network expansion included 12 new scheduled routes for summer 2026 and four for winter 2026-27, alongside frequency increases on 45 existing routes. Winter seat capacity was expected to reach approximately 2.2 million as the airport focused on reducing seasonality. Airline support combined seven incentive schemes with regional funding, including rebates on airport and ground handling charges at both ends of new routes. Market analysis, passenger surveys and performance monitoring informed tailored business cases and ongoing support.
Malta International Airport, Malta
Malta International Airport (MLA) surpassed 10 million passengers in 2025, up 12.3% year over year, as seat capacity increased more than 13% and average load factor remained stable at 85.4%. Winter passenger growth of 16% outpaced summer’s 11%, reflecting efforts to reduce seasonality. The airport served 111 airports across 37 markets with 34 airlines, welcoming LOT Polish Airlines, Qatar Airways, SAS Scandinavian Airlines and Volotea. Eleven routes launched in 2025, followed by five in 2026, including Delta Air Lines’ New York service. Route development focused on underserved markets, additional frequencies and year-round connectivity, in collaboration with the Malta Tourism Authority.
Newcastle International Airport, England
Newcastle International Airport (NCL) forecast more than 6 million passengers in 2026, up 8% year over year, supported by airline investment and network expansion. The airport secured four additional based aircraft—three from EasyJet and one from Ryanair—and 31 new routes, including 10 destinations new to its network. Norwegian joined its airline portfolio, while EasyJet expanded from seven to 31 destinations. Fourteen co-funded campaigns supported airline services, while an onward connectivity campaign generated 3.1 million views. Travel-trade activity included 18 training sessions and 12 joint airline sales visits. Regional tourism partners provided £200,000 ($265,000) for campaigns to stimulate inbound travel demand.
Pittsburgh International Airport, U.S.
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) handled 9.84 million passengers in 2025 and expanded its network to 64 nonstop destinations in 2026. Five new destinations were announced or launched since January 2025, alongside additional airline options on 10 existing routes. Aer Lingus joined as the airport’s 15th scheduled carrier, adding Dublin and expanding its transatlantic network to three destinations—its largest European footprint since 2004. Airline support combined market analysis with tailored advertising, destination storytelling and community engagement. Aer Lingus’ launch campaign included corporate travel events, a St. Patrick’s Day parade partnership and inbound media visits coordinated with Visit Pittsburgh.
10-17.5 Million
Da Nang International Airport, Vietnam
Da Nang International Airport (DAD) handled 15.29 million passengers in 2025 and 8.64 million during the first half of 2026, up 16.3% year over year. Its network expanded to 43 destinations, with 11 airline partners added since the start of 2025. Additions included Emirates’ Dubai service via Bangkok, China Southern Airlines’ Shenzhen flights and resumed charter connections to Almaty and Tashkent. Airlines received support before and after launch, including introductions to local stakeholders, joint marketing and performance monitoring. A 30% discount on check-in counter fees applied during July-December 2026 to help offset higher fuel costs. International terminal expansion began in May 2026.
Edinburgh Airport, Scotland
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) handled almost 17 million passengers in 2025 and forecast 17.8 million in 2026. It added 25 routes in 2025 and another 13 in 2026, while welcoming Luxair. North American services increased from six in April 2025 to 11 in April 2026, with capacity rising 47% and average load factor reaching 84%. Route development combined tailored market analysis with monthly and time-of-day pricing, offering discounts of up to 30% to encourage off-peak operations and longer seasons. The airport delivered 30 external airline marketing campaigns in 2025, generating more than 127.8 million impressions. Targeted U.S. activity with Aer Lingus increased bookings 48% year over year.
Helsinki Airport, Finland
Helsinki Airport (HEL) handled more than 17 million passengers in 2025 and offered nonstop connections to 140 airports during summer 2026. Network developments included China Southern Airlines’ Beijing service, Qatar Airways’ return to Doha and Emirates’ announcement of daily Dubai flights. Finnair’s expansion and additional capacity from Asian and Middle Eastern carriers strengthened connectivity. Operator Finavia supported airlines through tailored demand analysis, route development workshops and collaboration with Visit Finland and regional tourism organizations. New routes received dedicated comarketing funding, with carriers given flexibility to align campaigns with their commercial priorities.
Milan Bergamo Airport, Italy
Milan Bergamo Airport (BGY) served 154 destinations across 45 countries with 24 airlines during summer 2026. Passenger traffic was forecast to surpass the airport’s previous record of 17.3 million, set in 2024, and exceed 2019 levels by more than 30%. Network diversification extended beyond its European low-cost base, with services added since December 2022 by Air Arabia, FlyDubai, Jazeera Airways and Flyadeal strengthening Middle Eastern connectivity. Norwegian, which began serving BGY in 2023, expanded to eight destinations across its summer and winter schedules. Airline support centered on tailored commercial and marketing strategies, with dedicated campaigns designed to stimulate demand.
Prague Airport, Czech Republic
Prague Airport (PRG) forecast a record 18.6 million passengers in 2026 and expected connections to more than 200 destinations served by over 80 airlines. During the submission’s reporting period, it welcomed 11 airline partners and launched or announced 33 destinations, alongside 22 additional routes to existing markets. Capacity increases on 62 routes helped add more than 1.2 million seats, up 6%. Prague became the first European destination for Starlux Airlines and VietJet Air, while American Airlines resumed Philadelphia service. Airline support combined market intelligence, tailored incentives and travel-trade engagement. An €8.2 million ($9.2 million) annual airline marketing and tourism support budget funded more than 200 cobranded activities.
17.5-30 Million
Brisbane Airport, Australia
Brisbane Airport (BNE) handled 25.3 million passengers in fiscal 2026, with international traffic increasing 8.6%. Five new services included Malaysia Airlines’ Kuala Lumpur return, Jetstar flights to Cebu and Rarotonga, and Queenstown routes operated by Jetstar and Air New Zealand. China Southern expanded Guangzhou service to 2X-daily, adding approximately 128,000 seats. Airline support combined long-term commercial agreements, dedicated LCC infrastructure and coordinated investment through the Connecting Queensland Fund. Jetstar has added seven international routes under its growth framework, becoming Brisbane’s second-largest international carrier.
Brussels Airport, Belgium
Brussels Airport (BRU) forecast 25 million passengers in 2026, with 70 airlines serving 185 destinations. Across 2025 and 2026, it secured nine new airlines and 19 new destinations, including Atlanta, Hong Kong and Sao Paulo. Its China network expanded to six cities with the addition of Chongqing and Chengdu. Airline development combined route analysis, 60,000 annual passenger interviews and incentives totaling €30 million ($33.4 million) in 2026. Support included rebates on passenger charges for new destinations, passenger increases and based aircraft. Joint campaigns, terminal advertising and online promotions helped airlines stimulate demand. Travel-trade engagement included roadshows involving 45 airlines.
New Chitose Airport, Japan
New Chitose Airport (CTS) recorded international passenger traffic 37% above its previous fiscal 2019 peak in fiscal 2025. Network expansion included Greater Bay Airlines’ Hong Kong service and new Busan flights from Eastar Jet and Trinity Airways. Air Canada and United Airlines announced Vancouver and San Francisco services for winter 2026-27, while Qantas plans to increase Sydney flights to 5X-weekly. Operator Hokkaido Airports supported airlines with demand forecasts, route business cases, performance reviews and targeted sales campaigns. Its seven-airport network enabled coordinated destination promotion and stakeholder engagement across Hokkaido.
Oslo Airport, Norway
Oslo Airport (OSL) focused its route development strategy on winter tourism, helping Avinor secure 52 new winter routes across Norway over two years. International load factors at Oslo reached a winter record of 78% in the first quarter of 2026. A winter bonus scheme introduced in 2025 offered airlines rebates over three years for sustained expansion, supporting a new Finnair winter aircraft night stop and two Wizz Air routes. Avinor coordinated airlines, ski resorts, hotels and tour operators to stimulate demand during quieter months. Airline marketing packages and personalized social media content promoted Oslo’s winter attractions, while operational reliability supported carriers through challenging seasonal weather conditions.
Vancouver International Airport, Canada
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) handled a record 26.9 million passengers in 2025, up 2.7%. Asia-Pacific traffic increased 15.6%, supported by an 18.9% rise in seat capacity. New services included Air Canada’s Manila route and Trinity Airways’ Seoul flights, while Korean Air increased summer frequencies from 11X- to 14X-weekly. Its TeamYVR approach brought airlines, tourism organizations and industry partners together to develop business cases and coordinate marketing. Cooperative campaigns supported new and established routes through digital content, community events and destination promotion. Operational support included biometric boarding, used by 500,000 passengers.
Over 30 Million
Athens International Airport, Greece
Athens International Airport (ATH) handled a record 33.9 million passengers in 2025, up 6.7%, with international traffic rising 8.6%. Traffic increased another 4.4% to 23.71 million during January-August 2026. Across 2025 and early 2026, 21 airlines, including nine new carriers, added 28 destinations, including Los Angeles, Charlotte and Chengdu. IndiGo introduced Delhi and Mumbai services in 2026, opening direct connectivity with India. Airline support included 14 incentive programs providing more than €31 million ($34.7 million) in discounts during 2025. A 30% reduction in passenger terminal charges encouraged winter and off-peak operations. Market intelligence drew on surveys of more than 40,000 travelers annually.
Dublin Airport, Ireland
Dublin Airport (DUB) handled 36.4 million passengers in 2025 and forecast 37.5 million for 2026. Since 2024, it added 20 routes and three airlines, including China Eastern, while frequencies increased on 125 routes. Long-haul additions included Shanghai, Detroit, Indianapolis, Nashville and Pittsburgh. Summer 2026 capacity was 2.4 million seats above 2024 levels. Its DUB+ partner marketing program delivered 138 campaigns supporting 34 airlines in 2025. More than 22,000 passenger surveys informed tailored profiles and reports, while a new analytics platform supported route business cases. Incentives for quieter, next-generation aircraft provided nearly €7 million ($7.8 million) in 2025.
Orlando International Airport, U.S.
Orlando International Airport (MCO) handled 57.7 million passengers in 2025, adding 45 new and expanded routes and five international markets. Air France returned with Paris service, Iberia launched Madrid flights and ZIPAIR introduced Tokyo charters in February 2026, establishing Florida’s first nonstop passenger connection with Asia. Air France increased Paris service to daily for summer 2026. Orlando provided approximately $2.3 million in air service incentives in 2025 and invested more than $1 million in airline and route promotion. Support combined operational assistance, advertising, travel-agent training, corporate outreach and familiarization programs.
Rome Fiumicino Airport, Italy
Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) handled a record 51.3 million passengers in 2025, up 4%, including 10.8 million long-haul travelers. Its 2026 network development program included more than 40 new routes, over 15 new destinations and four new airlines. North American connectivity reached 22 airports, including Seattle with Alaska Airlines and Houston with ITA Airways. Qantas expanded Perth service to daily at peak, while Ethiopian Airlines increased Addis Ababa flights to twice daily. Operator Aeroporti di Roma combined airline-specific business cases, tailored incentives, operational coordination and post-launch performance monitoring.
Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore
Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) handled a record 70.4 million passengers in fiscal 2025-26, up 3%. From January 2025 to August 2026, it added 20 passenger and freighter links and welcomed 10 carriers, extending its network to 174 cities in 51 countries. Airline support combined joint marketing, travel-trade engagement and operational coordination. Campaigns with Ethiopian Airlines helped support a fifth weekly Singapore service, while a Trip.com promotion targeting six European cities generated more than 3,000 incremental bookings. SIN also coordinated slots and ground support for Qantas’ Sydney-Singapore-Paris service during Middle East disruption.
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