Lois Larson
Heathrow Airport and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol are two of the largest and busiest airports in Europe. Heathrow Airport, located in London, UK, is the busiest airport in Europe and the seventh busiest in the world, with 78,012,825 passengers in 2017. On the other hand, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, covering 27.87 square kilometres, has one main terminal building and six runways. While both airports are significant aviation hubs, the question remains: which one is bigger?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Busiest airport in Europe | London Heathrow Airport |
| Busiest airport in the world | Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Atlanta |
| Heathrow's rank in the world | 3rd |
| Heathrow's rank in Europe | 1st |
| Heathrow's world rank in 2012 | 7th |
| Heathrow's passenger traffic in 2019 | 80,884,310 |
| Heathrow's passenger traffic in 2013 | 72 million |
| Heathrow's passenger traffic in 2017 | 78,012,825 |
| Heathrow's number of airlines | 81 |
| Heathrow's destinations | 204 |
| Heathrow's countries served | 85 |
| Amsterdam Airport Schiphol's area | 27.87km² |
| Heathrow's area | 12.27km² |
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What You'll Learn
Heathrow is the busiest airport in Europe
Heathrow Airport in London is the busiest airport in Europe. In 2017, it served 78,012,825 passengers, and in 2019, it welcomed 80,884,310 visitors. Heathrow is also one of the largest intercontinental airports in the world, ranking seventh. It is the hub for British Airways, one of the world's largest and most influential airlines. Heathrow attracts the most international passengers annually in Europe.
Heathrow's status as Europe's busiest airport was highlighted in March 2025 when a fire at a nearby electrical substation caused the airport to shut down for around 18 hours. This disruption was one of the most serious since the 2010 eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano, which shut down Europe's airspace for days. The 2025 incident affected at least 1,350 flights to and from Heathrow, causing widespread cancellations and stranding approximately 200,000 passengers.
Several factors contribute to Heathrow's high passenger traffic. Firstly, Heathrow serves 204 destinations in 85 countries, offering a wide range of travel options for passengers. Secondly, Heathrow is home to 81 airlines, including major carriers such as British Airways. The presence of multiple airlines provides travellers with a variety of choices for their journeys. Additionally, Heathrow's capacity for handling a large volume of flights and passengers contributes to its busy status.
To accommodate the high passenger traffic, Heathrow has plans for expansion. One proposal includes the construction of a third runway near the north end of the airport, which would significantly increase the number of passengers the airport can handle. Another suggestion is a rail link between Heathrow and Gatwick Airport, another large airport near London. These projects aim to enhance Heathrow's capacity and improve the overall travel experience for the many passengers who pass through Europe's busiest airport.
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Amsterdam Schiphol has a single-terminal design
Heathrow Airport in London, UK, is the busiest airport in Europe and the seventh busiest in the world. In 2017, it served 78,012,825 passengers, and in 2019, it welcomed 80,884,310 visitors. Heathrow Airport is also the hub for British Airways, one of the world's largest and most influential airlines.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, on the other hand, is the main international airport of the Netherlands and is located 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) southwest of Amsterdam. It is built on the single-terminal concept: one large terminal split into three departure halls. This distinctive design is characterised by abundant daylight, simplicity of space, and impressive spatiality. The single-terminal design allows for architectural clarity, spatial openness, and seamless linkage with Schiphol Plaza, the train station, and potential future expansions.
The raised Plateau at the heart of the terminal creates a higher ceiling for the baggage hall and provides more privacy for the check-in and security control areas. The use of soaring panes of glass on the façades provides passengers with a sweeping view of the entrance hall and the Dutch sky. The columns in the façade bear the load of the unique roof, spanning approximately 180 x 150 meters.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has undergone gradual refurbishments and expansions over the years. The airport first expanded in 1967 with a new terminal area, and most of this terminal is still in use today. In 1993, Departure Hall 3 and the G-pier were added, and a sixth runway was completed in 2003. Schiphol is known for its large shopping areas, primarily on the ground floor, and it houses various facilities within the Schiphol Plaza, connecting the three terminal halls.
While Heathrow Airport in London is currently the busiest airport in Europe, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is not far behind. With almost 72 million passengers in 2019, it is the third busiest airport in Europe in terms of passenger volume and the busiest in Europe in terms of aircraft movements. Schiphol is a major hub for the SkyTeam airline alliance and has an annual cargo tonnage of 1.74 million, making it the fourth busiest in Europe in terms of cargo.
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Heathrow's third runway expansion plans
Heathrow Airport in London is the busiest airport in Europe and the seventh busiest in the world. In 2017, it served 78,012,825 passengers, and in 2019, it had 80,884,310 visitors. Heathrow Airport is also the hub for British Airways, one of the world's largest and most influential airlines.
Due to the high volume of passengers and its importance as an intercontinental hub, there have been plans to expand Heathrow Airport by adding a third runway. The plans for expansion were initially presented by Heathrow Airport Holdings and an independent proposal by Heathrow Hub, with the main objective of increasing capacity. The UK government supported the expansion, with the then Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon announcing in 2009 that a new 2,200-metre-long runway would be built, serving a new passenger terminal. This terminal would act as a hub for public and private transport, separate from the central hub.
The expansion plans have faced opposition and criticism, with concerns raised about construction costs, the threat to jobs at Heathrow, increased CO2 emissions, and the impact on nearby residents. It was estimated that up to 4,000 houses would need to be demolished or abandoned, and while aviation minister Jim Fitzpatrick assured that those evicted would be compensated, local councils and the mayor, Boris Johnson, considered legal action to prevent the expansion.
Despite the controversies, Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) continued to pursue its expansion plans. In May 2018, HAL submitted a Scoping Report to the Secretary of State for Transport, seeking a Development Consent Order (DCO) for a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). This included the proposed third runway to the north-west, supporting infrastructure, and works to local roads and rivers.
In February 2025, Heathrow confirmed plans for new investments, including upgrades to existing infrastructure and continued progress toward the third runway. In the same year, the new Labour government, led by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, reaffirmed its commitment to proceeding with the third runway within the current parliamentary term. The runway, if approved, is expected to be operational by 2025, significantly increasing the number of passengers that can travel through Heathrow.
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Heathrow is the second busiest airport in the world
Heathrow Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. Located 14 miles (23 km) west of Central London, Heathrow is the UK's largest port by value and the busiest airport in Europe in terms of passenger traffic. It is also one of the largest intercontinental airports in the world, ranking 7th in 2017. Heathrow attracts the most international passengers annually in Europe and is the primary hub for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. With 89 airlines flying to 214 destinations in 84 countries, Heathrow remains a crucial gateway to Europe, offering connections to destinations worldwide.
In 2019, Heathrow served 80.8 million visitors, with 80.9 million being the record set in 2019. In 2021, Heathrow served 19.4 million passengers, of which 17 million were international and 2.4 million were domestic. Heathrow's passenger numbers dropped sharply by over 72% in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in March 2023, more than four million passengers travelled on domestic and international flights, making Heathrow the busiest airport in Europe once again.
Heathrow's high passenger traffic can sometimes lead to longer wait times, crowded terminals, and busier security checkpoints. However, the airport has made significant investments in technology, services, and infrastructure to ensure smooth operations. Heathrow has four passenger terminals and one cargo terminal, with plans for a third runway and a rail link to Gatwick Airport in the future.
Heathrow is also a major cargo hub, processing nearly half (48%) of all cargo in the UK in 2023, with 198.5 billion pounds ($256.6 billion) worth of goods passing through. The airport covers 4.74 square miles (12.3 square kilometres) and has two parallel east-west runways, extended versions of the original six runways arranged in a hexagram shape. Heathrow's busy status as a global travel hub was highlighted when a power outage and large fire nearby caused massive disruption to flights in March 2025.
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Amsterdam Schiphol has six runways
Heathrow Airport, located 14 miles (23 km) west of Central London, is the busiest airport in Europe and the seventh busiest in the world. In 2017, it served 78,012,825 passengers, with 80.9 million passengers travelling through the airport in its busiest year on record, 2019. Heathrow has two parallel east-west runways, four operational passenger terminals, and one cargo terminal. It is the primary hub for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic and serves 204 destinations in 85 countries.
Amsterdam Schiphol, on the other hand, has six runways, one of which is primarily used by general aviation. The airport covers a total area of 6,887 acres (2,787 ha) of land. Schiphol is geographically one of the world's lowest major commercial airports, with the entire airport situated below sea level. The runways are around 3 m (9.8 ft) below the Dutch Normaal Amsterdams Peil (NAP). Schiphol is one of only eleven airports worldwide that are below sea level, the fifth lowest with scheduled flights, and the third lowest with international flights.
Amsterdam Schiphol's single-terminal design is split into three departure halls, which are further divided into piers. Piers D and E are for flights within the Schengen area, Pier F is for flights outside the Schengen area, and Pier G is for non-Schengen flights. The airport has a large rooftop viewing area called the Panoramaterras, which is accessible to the public and aviation enthusiasts.
While Heathrow currently has fewer runways than Amsterdam Schiphol, there are plans for a third runway near the north end of the airport, which would increase the number of passengers travelling through Heathrow. This proposed expansion project is expected to be completed by 2025.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Heathrow Airport is larger than Amsterdam Airport. Heathrow is the busiest airport in Europe and the seventh busiest in the world, with 78,012,825 passengers in 2017. Heathrow Airport covers 12.27km² and has plans to expand further with the addition of a third runway. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, on the other hand, covers 27.87km² and has one main terminal building and six runways.
Heathrow Airport currently has two runways and has plans to build a third one.
Heathrow Airport has five terminals.
The Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, USA, is the busiest airport in the world, with 72 million passengers in 2013.
