ACI EUROPE announces winners of Best Airport Awards 2025
At the 35th ACI EUROPE Annual Congress and General Assembly, the winners of the prestigious ACI EUROPE 2025 Best Airport Awards were announced. Discover our winners and highly commended airports below.
The ACI EUROPE Best Airport Awards honour the airports truly leading the way – from the largest and busiest hubs to Europe’s smaller yet essential regional airports. With 2024 passenger traffic surpassing pre‑pandemic levels and further growth expected in 2025, airports are facing new challenges in operations, sustainability, passenger experience, security, financial resilience, and staff wellbeing. Europe’s airports have needed to adapt at incredible speed, with rock‑solid resilience and innovative strategies to get ahead of fast‑changing market dynamics. This year’s award theme of ‘the challenges of growth’ recognises those who have risen to meet these demands head‑on.
Award for Exceptional Resilience: Ukrainian Airports
In a surprise announcement, ACI EUROPE honoured Ukrainian Airports for their resilience in maintaining infrastructure, staying operational despite closed airspace, revenue loss and war damage – all whilst supporting their staff. ACI EUROPE chose to recognise Ukrainian airports for weathering this exceptional and unprecedented hardship with an award representing the support of the European airport community.
Digital Transformation Award: Munich Airport
Munich Airport was recognised for its wide use of digital tools, including AI and service robots, to boost efficiency and passenger experience.
Highly commended: Athens International Airport
Eco Innovation Award: Maastricht Aachen Airport
Maastricht Aachen Airport impressed with Electrifly, a fully electric door-to-door international travel concept, seen as a successful model for zero-emission journeys.
Highly commended: Avinor Stavanger Airport
HR Excellence Award: Lyon Airport
Lyon Airport’s HR team was praised for its comprehensive and genuine commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, supported by strong leadership and clear policies.
World Business Partner Award: Ella Soltani, To70 Aviation
To70 Aviation’s Ella Soltani was recognised her staunch involvement with ACI EUROPE, especially in the Environmental Strategy Committee, earning wide respect for her deep expertise and knowledge sharing.
Under 5 Million Passengers: Cork Airport
Cork Airport was awarded for impressive advancements in operational excellence, passenger experience and environmental leadership.
Highly commended: Tallinn Airport
5 to 10 Million Passengers: Vasil Levski Sofia Airport
Vasil Levski Sofia Airport stood out for its ambitious transformation plan, focus on workforce development, and commendable progress towards net zero by 2036.
Highly commended: Larnaka International Airport
10 to 25 Million Passengers: Hamburg Airport
Hamburg Airport gained recognition for its digital innovation, strong sustainability record, and plans to become the first CO₂-neutral metropolitan airport in Germany.
Highly commended: Milano Linate Airport
25 to 40 Million Passengers: Athens International Airport
Athens Airport was praised for strategic collaborations, destination promotion and effectively tackling seasonality – and its ability to address its challenges head on through strategic strengths.
Over 40 Million Passengers: Rome-Fiumicino Airport
Rome Fiumicino Airport deservedly received this award again for its solar farm, major emissions reductions and data-driven, collaborative approach to airport management.
Highly commended: London Heathrow Airport
Couldn’t join us on the night? Rewatch the recording from our livestream here.
