Routes Europe looks to Antalya after Rimini: Prague is the best airport and Florence awarded among the airports under 5 million passengers

The 2026 edition of Routes Europe, an international event dedicated to the development of air connections that brings together airlines, airports, tourism boards and decision-makers in the aviation sector, has closed in Rimini. On the last day of the event, the Emilia-Romagna Region, the Municipality of Rimini and the International Airport of Rimini and San Marino (RMI) formally passed the baton to Fraport TAV Antalya Airport, which will host Routes Europe 2027.

The next edition will therefore be held in Antalya, one of the main leisure destinations on the Turkish Mediterranean coast, increasingly positioned as a destination that can be used all year round thanks to an offer that ranges from seaside tourism to culture, from sport to events, up to eco-tourism. The 2027 event is expected to be a strategic platform for the sector, with over 5,000 face-to-face meetings between operators and representatives of the main airlines, aimed at creating new partnerships and the sustainable development of connections.

Antalya Airport, operated by the joint venture between TAV Airports and Fraport, is the second busiest airport in Turkey by international traffic. After the €865 million expansion completed in April 2025, the airport's annual capacity has risen to 65 million passengers. In 2025, the airport handled a record 39.2 million passengers, strengthening its role in supporting the destination's tourism growth.

With over 100 partner airlines and a network of more than 200 destinations, Antalya continues to expand its connectivity in Europe and beyond. Recent innovations include new connections and routes planned by companies such as SunExpress, Jet2.com, easyJet, Centrum Air, Qanot Sharq and Uzbekistan Airways, confirming the airport's growing attractiveness on the European and international scene.

Alongside the handover, Routes Europe 2026 also celebrated the winners of the Routes Europe Awards, an award dedicated to excellence in airport marketing, destination development and collaboration with airlines. 

• The title of Overall Winner was awarded to Prague Airport, which also won in the 5-20 million passengers category. The Czech airport recorded strong growth in 2025, with 17.8 million passengers, up 8.5% compared to 2024. During the year, it supported the launch of 46 new routes, including 24 new destinations, welcomed 12 new airlines and increased frequencies or capacity on more than 55 existing routes, adding nearly 1.5 million seats. Particular attention has also been paid to long-haul, with new services to Seoul, Abu Dhabi, Toronto, Sharjah and Taipei, as well as the planned American Airlines connection to Philadelphia in 2026.
• In the Under 5 Million Passengers category, the award went to Florence Airport, which handled 3.8 million passengers in 2025, with a growth of 9.4% year-on-year. The Tuscan airport was awarded for the strengthening of its network, supported by 20 airlines to 40 destinations, the arrival of new partners such as Air Corsica and Air Serbia and the opening of routes to destinations including Alghero, Belgrade, Brussels, Elba Island and Nice.
• Athens International Airport won the award in the Over 20 Million Passengers category, confirming the success achieved at Routes World 2025. In 2025, the Greek airport reached 34 million passengers, up 6.7%, with 21 airlines launching new services and 29 new destinations added to the network.
• The award in the Destination category was awarded to the Canary Islands Tourist Board – Promotur, awarded for its long-term and data-driven route development strategy, which has contributed to strengthening the air connectivity of the Spanish archipelago. Compared to 2019, the Canary Islands increased capacity in seats by 33.6%, with more than 6 million additional arriving seats, while passenger traffic grew by 24.3%.
• For the third year in a row, Jet2.com won the award in the Airline category. The British leisure carrier has been recognised for its continued expansion of its network, the development of new bases and its close collaboration with airports and tourism partners. The airline now operates over 650 routes from 14 bases in the UK to more than 80 destinations, thanks in part to recent openings in Bournemouth and London Gatwick.

With the closing of the Rimini edition and the move to Antalya, Routes Europe confirms its role as a central platform for the development of European air connectivity. An event that not only rewards the best growth strategies, but concretely contributes to the creation of new routes, the promotion of destinations and the strengthening of relations between airports, airlines and territories.