Routes World Awards 2024: The Airport Finalists

Thirty organizations and nine individuals being recognized in this year’s edition of the Routes World Awards, taking place in Bahrain.

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 Oct. 7 during the Networking Evening.

More News And Analysis From Routes World 2024

The shortlists are as follows:

UNDER 5 MILLION AWARD

Curaçao International Airport (CUR), Curaçao

Curaçao International Airport (CUR) has made significant strides in route development, recovering strongly in 2022 and targeting nearly 2 million passenger movements in 2024. The airport emphasizes retention, sustainable growth and network diversification, supported by partnerships with the Curaçao Tourism Board and local hospitality sector. Notable successes include Azul's expanded service from Brazil, increased flights from Avianca and Copa Airlines, and American Airlines' daily Charlotte service. Delta also resumed its Atlanta route after 13 years. CUR’s achievements and innovative marketing are enhancing its role as a key regional hub for tourism and business.

Halifax Stanfield International Airport, Canada

With 40 destinations served by 18 airlines in 2024, Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) has seen a 69.8% year-over-year growth in trans-border capacity and a 60.2% increase in transatlantic and international services. New routes, such as Edelweiss’ Halifax-Zurich service and BermudAir’s addition from Bermuda, highlight YHZ’s strategic focus on growing its domestic and international footprint. Halifax International Airport Authority’s robust incentive programs, coupled with innovative marketing strategies—including a Times Square campaign for Air Canada’s Halifax-Newark route—have played a vital role in boosting service sustainability.

Newcastle International Airport, United Kingdom

Newcastle International Airport (NCL) connects the northeast of England to more than 80 destinations with 16 airline partners and onward connections to over 325 locations. The airport’s route development strategy focuses on sustainable growth, leading to four new airline partners and 41 new routes post-pandemic, including long-haul flights from TUI. NCL achieved a 43% capacity increase to Greece and Cyprus and expanded services from Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2. Its innovative marketing campaigns, like "Here to get you there," delivered 15 million impressions and boosted website traffic by 21%. Newcastle’s £20 million ($26 million) investment in passenger experience and strong airline partnerships ensure its position as a growing UK aviation hub.

Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport, Italy

Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport (OLB) stands out with its impressive route development and traffic recovery. Since 2020, OLB has added 36 new routes and partnered with 16 airlines, including long-haul flights by flydubai. Ryanair and Volotea’s expansion has strengthened year-round connectivity, tackling seasonality. By 2022, OLB had fully recovered pre-pandemic passenger levels, achieving a 6.5% CAGR from 2019 to 2024. Innovative marketing campaigns and a recovery incentive scheme have fueled this growth. Committed to sustainability, OLB implements green initiatives and engages with the community through events like the Airport Run, enhancing Sardinia’s global appeal.

Tallinn Airport, Estonia

Tallinn Airport (TLL) has demonstrated impressive growth in route development and traffic recovery. Since summer 2023, TLL has introduced 16 new routes, added three new airlines and achieved a 25% increase in capacity. With close to 3.5 million passengers projected for 2024—a record high—TLL has surpassed its pre-pandemic traffic levels. New routes include service by Transavia France and Eurowings. Latvian carrier airBaltic’s expansion adds six new routes for winter/spring 2024. The airport’s robust incentive schemes and marketing initiatives, including B2C campaigns and partnerships with Visit Estonia, support ongoing growth and connectivity.

5-10 MILLION

Adelaide Airport, Australia

Adelaide Airport (ADL) has achieved notable milestones in route development and capacity growth. Passenger volumes have surpassed pre-COVID levels, with new connectivity including Vietjet’s debut route to Vietnam and Jetstar’s service to Whitsunday Coast. ADL has also secured up-gauged aircraft with Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways to meet demand. Looking ahead, Emirates will return daily with a Boeing 777-200LR from Oct. 28, while Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines will increase frequencies. China Southern Airlines will also restore nonstop flights from Guangzhou in December.

Cape Town International Airport, South Africa

Cape Town International Airport (CPT) has seen remarkable growth since the pandemic. With Cape Town Air Access's support, CPT has welcomed 18 new routes from 16 airlines since March 2021, surpassing pre-COVID levels. The latest new services include Norse Atlantic Airways’ flights from London Gatwick and FlySafair’s first international route to Windhoek. CPT’s international passenger numbers have consistently exceeded 2019 levels, achieving a 108% recovery rate in 2023 and setting new records with over 2.8 million two-way passengers. Upcoming expansions include increased frequencies by airlines like British Airways and Lufthansa.

Edmonton International Airport, Canada

Edmonton International Airport (YEG) has made significant strides in expanding its route network and boosting capacity. In 2024, YEG has secured 53 new destination launches or route capacity increases year-over-year, including daily service to Atlanta with WestJet and an expanded Amsterdam service with KLM, up to 5X-weekly. YEG's Regional Air Services Opportunities Fund, totaling C$15 million ($11 million) and in partnership with several stakeholders, supports route growth and community economic development. From 11 destinations during the pandemic, YEG is set to recover to nearly 50 nonstop flights by the end of 2024, aiming for 94% of pre-pandemic passenger traffic.

Larnaka Airport, Cyprus

Larnaka Airport (LCA) is crucial for Cyprus, serving as a gateway for the island's tourism-driven economy. In 2023, LCA grew by 34% from 2022, returning to pre-pandemic levels despite geopolitical challenges. By mid-2024, passenger numbers rose by 5% compared to the same period in 2023, with projections of 8.5 million total passengers by year-end. LCA welcomed five new airlines and introduced 14 new routes in 2023 and 2024. The airport's focus on sustainable, year-round connectivity resulted in a 40% increase in winter passenger numbers. LCA supports airlines with incentive schemes and joint marketing campaigns, fostering strong partnerships and promoting Cyprus as a year-round destination.

Reykjavik Keflavík Airport, Iceland

Reykjavik Keflavík Airport (KEF) has demonstrated remarkable growth, expanding from 10 airlines and 50 destinations in 2010 to more than 25 airlines and 100 destinations today. The airport’s strategic efforts to balance seasonal traffic include lower winter charges and enhanced incentives, which have successfully attracted 20 airlines during the winter months of 2024. Post-pandemic, KEF surpassed 2019 passenger levels by 12% and achieved a 27% increase in passenger figures from 2022 to 2023. KEF’s effective incentive programs, including discounts and marketing support, have led to 20 new routes and five new airlines since 2019.

10-20 MILLION

Budapest Airport, Hungary

Budapest Airport (BUD) is set for a record-breaking year in 2024, anticipating nearly 17 million passengers, surpassing 2019 levels. The airport's route development strategy led to 32 new routes, including destinations in Saudi Arabia, China and Greece, and a seven-fold increase in capacity to South Korea. With 27 based aircraft by ULCCs and expanded frequencies to the Far East, BUD saw a 14% increase in European seat capacity. Innovative incentives benefiting over a dozen airlines and strategic marketing campaigns bolstered growth. BUD’s excellence in service and marketing has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the ACI Airport Service Quality and Skytrax awards.

Calgary International Airport (YYC), Canada

Calgary International Airport (YYC) welcomed 18.5 million passengers in 2023, surpassing its 2019 record, and achieved the second-highest recovery rate in Canada. The airport added 24 new routes, including 10 previously unserved destinations, and saw increased capacity on existing routes. Significant milestones include the launch of daily year-round services to Paris and Tokyo, the reintroduction of the Frankfurt route with Condor and the resumption of routes to Munich and Tulum. YYC is on track to reach 19 million passengers in 2024. Its data-driven approach and close partnerships with local tourism organizations enhance connectivity and drive performance for airline partners.

Edinburgh Airport, United Kingdom

Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is on track to surpass its 2019 passenger record by 8% in 2024. The airport has expanded its airline portfolio with new services from JetBlue, Emirates, Pegasus and Aurigny, and has increased transatlantic capacity by 74% since 2019. New routes to North America and expanded Beijing flights with Hainan Airlines highlight Edinburgh’s growing global connectivity. The airport’s innovative use of data and tailored business cases has secured key airlines, including Emirates and Pegasus. Targeted marketing campaigns, such as Euro 2024 promotions and JetBlue’s Edinburgh Fringe sponsorship, have boosted visibility and demand.

Hamburg Airport, Germany

Hamburg Airport (HAM) achieved an 86% capacity recovery in summer 2024, compared with summer 2019, placing it as a standout performer of all major non-hub airports in Germany. The number of destinations served has also reached pre-pandemic levels at 120. The airport's flexible approach includes a three-year incentive program tailored to encourage airline growth through new routes, increased capacity or higher load factors. HAM has welcomed seven new airlines and 40 new routes, including airBaltic from Vilnius, Qatar Airways from Doha and Vueling from Bilbao. Eurowings has also expanded its network to destinations like Erbil, Iraq; Jerez, Spain; Kittilä, Finland; Manchester, England; Nuremberg, Germany; and Rovaniemi, Finland.

Prague Airport, Czech Republic

Prague Airport (PRG) has welcomed 58 new routes and 14 new carriers, boosting its seat capacity by 3.6 million and increasing cargo transport by over 40% year-on-year. New routes include Etihad Airways’ flights from Abu Dhabi and Hainan Airlines’ service from Beijing. The airport also added flights to Astana, Kazakhstan; Cairo, Egypt; and Tashkent, Uzbekistan, as well as new charter destinations like Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Prague ranks among Europe’s fastest-growing airports, with a 29% rise in passengers and forecasts of 16.2 million for 2024. Support includes six incentive programs and €6.9 million ($7.7 million) in marketing.

OVER 20 MILLION

Athens International Airport (ATH), Greece

Athens International Airport (ATH) has experienced sustained growth, setting new records in passenger traffic and expanding its global connectivity. In 2023, ATH achieved a 10.2% increase in traffic over 2019, and 2024 is on track for an even stronger performance with a 23% year-over-year rise during the first eight months. ATH’s route development strategy has added 41 new destinations, 76 additional services and 18 new airlines. Key achievements include significant long-haul expansions, such as the addition of American Airlines’ planned Charlotte-Athens route in summer 2025, boosting U.S. connectivity. Focused on niche markets and seasonal demand, ATH offers strong incentives and marketing campaigns, enhancing its role as a growing European hub while maintaining consistent growth across international markets.

Brussels Airport, Belgium

Brussels Airport (BRU) is driving route development success through in-depth market analysis, strong airline partnerships and innovative incentives. In 2024, BRU expects a post-pandemic record of 24 million passengers, served by 65 airlines flying to 185 destinations. Its strategy led to 10 new airlines, including Singapore Airlines and Wizz Air, and 20 new destinations such as Toronto, Bangkok and Seville. BRU offers passenger growth incentives, alongside creative marketing campaigns, from online activations to trade roadshows. This comprehensive approach, backed by market research and dynamic promotions, positions BRU as a competitive hub in Europe’s crowded aviation landscape.

London Gatwick, England

London Gatwick Airport (LGW) has welcomed 17 new airlines and introduced 30 new routes in the past 12 months, with 21 being long-haul. Notable long-haul expansions include new services to Addis Ababa with Ethiopian Airlines, Guangzhou with China Southern Airlines and Singapore with Singapore Airlines. Short-haul developments feature seven new airlines and nine new routes, including destinations such as the Azores and Faroe Islands. LGW’s focus on airline support and tailored marketing campaigns has driven a 9% increase in passenger numbers, reaching 42.6 million in the past year. The airport’s ongoing investment in infrastructure and sustainable growth plans support its goal of accommodating up to 75 million passengers by the late 2030s.

Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore

Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) handled 64.8 million passengers and 1.89 million metric tons of freight in the year to July 2024, up year-on-year by 25% and 8%, respectively. The airport now connects to 157 cities with 96 airlines, operating more than 7,000 weekly flights. New routes include Brussels, Sanya, Vancouver and Beijing Daxing, while resumed links feature Okinawa and Kaohsiung. SIN welcomed seven new airlines in the past year, such as Air Canada and Sichuan Airlines, and celebrated expansions with Turkish Airlines and Emirates. SIN’s marketing efforts include social media campaigns and revamped Free Singapore Tours, enhancing engagement and connectivity. The airport's focus on sustainability includes the Changi Carbon Offset Scheme and support for sustainable aviation fuel trials.

Vienna International Airport, Austria

In 2024, Vienna International Airport (VIE) celebrates its 70^th anniversary, marking a milestone with a robust recovery. The airport handled 29.5 million passengers in 2023, its second-best year ever, with a record-breaking June and July. Vienna now serves 203 destinations with 65 airlines. Recent developments include 34 new or returning routes such as Boston by Austrian Airlines and Tokyo Haneda by All Nippon Airways. VIE invests in airline partnerships through eye-catching promotions and more than 20 special events. The airport's marketing includes collaborations the Austrian Tourist Board, alongside B2B events with 160 travel agents. Future plans involve a terminal extension and a commitment to sustainability, including powering 50% of electricity with solar energy.