In a glittering ceremony that culminated in the 35th ACI Europe Annual Congress and General Assembly, the winners of the ACI Europe Best Airport Awards 2025 were announced last week in Athens. Hosted by Athens International Airport, the event recognized airports that have achieved outstanding performance in a variety of categories, from Europe's largest and busiest hubs to its smaller but essential regional airports.
With passenger traffic expected to exceed pre-pandemic levels in 2024 and further growth expected in 2025, airports face new challenges in terms of operations, passenger experience, safety, financial resilience, and staff well-being. European airports have adapted to rapidly changing market dynamics with remarkable speed, rock-solid resilience, and innovative strategies. This year's award theme, "The Challenges of Growth," recognized those that have addressed these challenges head-on.
A special kind of prize: The exceptional resilience of Ukrainian airports
An emotional highlight of the evening was the surprising awarding of the prize for Exceptional resilience to Ukrainian airportsIn a gesture of solidarity and recognition, ACI Europe paid tribute to the steadfastness with which these airports have faced the past years. Despite closed airspace and the complete loss of air connectivity, Ukrainian airports have worked tirelessly to preserve existing infrastructure and maintain operational readiness, while caring for their staff. Given the complete loss of operating revenue and war-related damage, ACI Europe wanted to acknowledge this extraordinary and unprecedented suffering with an award that expresses the support of the entire European airport community. This award highlights the human dimension of aviation and reminds us of the importance of infrastructure even in the most adverse conditions. It is a recognition of the tireless efforts of staff who, despite the destruction and loss of revenue, are trying to lay the foundations for a future resumption of operations.
Digitalization as the key to the future: Munich as a pioneer
The Digital Transformation Award, an initiative of the SESAR Joint Undertaking in cooperation with ACI Europe, recognizes a European airport that has advanced digitalization and introduced innovative technologies and procedures to improve the safety, capacity, and efficiency of its operations. This year, the winner, Munich Airport, the jury impressed with a wide range of technologies that have improved both the passenger experience and operational efficiency. These include the use of service robots and artificial intelligence (AI) for turnaround management – the efficient handling of aircraft between landing and takeoff. Through a strategic focus on digital transformation and ecosystem collaboration, Munich Airport has positioned itself as a leader in digital aviation. Athens International Airport also received an honorable mention in this category, underscoring the importance of digitalization for the entire industry.
Digitalization is no longer just a buzzword; it's a necessity for modern airports. It not only enables smoother passenger and cargo handling, but also helps reduce operational costs and increase safety. The introduction of AI-powered systems for aircraft handling, from refueling to baggage loading, can significantly increase efficiency and minimize delays. Given the projected growth in passenger traffic, this is crucial to prevent capacity bottlenecks.
Human resources management in focus: Lyon as a model for diversity and inclusion
The HR Excellence Award recognizes an airport's human resources department that has demonstrated excellence in human resources management and developing the airport workforce for the future. The goal is to promote new practices and skills for the overall improvement of the airport community. This year, applications were evaluated with a special focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
The award-winning application of the Lyon Airport encompassed a wide range of outstanding initiatives demonstrating a genuine commitment to DEI. Lyon Airport's Human Resources department had presented a comprehensive plan to identify, monitor, and improve its DEI policies. The jury noted that the project demonstrated both an individual and collective leadership approach in a truly inclusive work environment. This underscores the growing recognition within the industry that a diverse and inclusive workforce is not only ethically desirable but also a critical factor for business success. A work environment where all employees feel valued and included can increase employee satisfaction, boost productivity, and foster innovation.
Identifying industry players: Ella Soltani as World Business Partner
The World Business Partner Award recognizes an ACI Europe World Business Partner, whether an individual or a company, who has made significant contributions to the industry. It recognizes the exemplary efforts of the World Business Partner community and the value they bring to ACI Europe as a whole.
The winner, Ella Soltani from To70 Aviation, was recognized for her reliable and trustworthy contribution to many of ACI Europe's activities. Her participation in the Environmental Strategy Committee, the Stargate Project, and her active role as a facilitator and facilitator of key discussions at numerous industry conferences and events, where she demonstrated unparalleled energy and in-depth technical expertise, made her recognition well-deserved. This award highlights the importance of collaboration between airports and their business partners, working together to advance the aviation industry.
Top performance in various passenger categories
The ACI Europe Best Airport Awards are presented in various categories based on annual passenger traffic to ensure a fair assessment of performance.
In the category under 5 million passengers could the Cork Airport It demonstrated strong performance across a range of metrics, including booming passenger growth (+10% year-on-year), while also improving operational efficiency and the passenger experience. Tallinn Airport received an Honorable Mention in this category.
The winner in the category 5-10 million passengers was the Vasil Levski Airport SofiaIt impressed the jury with a compelling, ambitious, and well-structured transformation strategy, including efforts to support human capital development and strengthen links with local communities. Larnaca International Airport also received an honorable mention. Sofia Airport's recognition underscores the efforts of Eastern European airports to establish themselves as modern and efficient hubs. Such transformations often involve significant investments in infrastructure and technology.
The Hamburg Flughafen was in the category 10-25 million passengers It was particularly praised for its long-term focus on digital processes, improved passenger experience, and extensive initiatives. In addition to impressive route and airline growth, the airport is well on its way to becoming the first carbon-free metropolitan airport in its country. Milan Linate Airport also received an honorable mention in this category. Hamburg's success demonstrates how even established airports can strengthen their position through innovation and a clear strategic direction.
In the category 25-40 million passengers became the Athens International Airport The award was given to the congress's host, who was praised for his ability to directly address challenges through strategic strengths. Having mastered seasonality and reached new heights in destination promotion through collaboration with key aviation and tourism stakeholders, he was considered the undisputed winner in this category.
And finally, in the premier league of airports with over 40 million passengers, the Rome Fiumicino Airport It is not the first time that Rome Fiumicino Airport has won in this category, but its continuous commitment to excellence makes it worthy of multiple awards. A data-driven approach to airport management and a heightened commitment to stakeholder collaboration ensured its continued recognition. London Heathrow Airport received an honorable mention in this category. Rome Fiumicino Airport has established itself as an industry leader, proving that even very large airports can continuously improve their performance.
The ACI Europe Best Airport Awards are an important benchmark for the development and performance of the European airport industry. They demonstrate how airports are responding to the complex challenges of growth by investing in technology, personnel, and infrastructure to enhance the passenger experience and increase operational efficiency. The diversity of the award-winning airports, from small regional airports to global hubs, underscores the dynamism and innovative strength of the entire industry.
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