Germany, the United Kingdom, and France each placed seven airports in the list of 50 biggest airports in Europe for private jets.
Forty-four of Europe’s busiest private jet airports saw a decrease in flight movements in 2023 compared to 2022, according to the European Business Aviation Association.
Despite an 8% dip, Paris Le Bourget kept its usual number spot with 55,751 arrivals and departures.
That would have ranked it in the high teens on our U.S. list of busiest airports for private departures.
It was followed by Nice Cote d’Azur, Geneva International, London Farnborough, London Luton, Zurich, Milan Linate, London Biggin Hill, Palma de Mallorca, and Rome Ciampino, rounding out the top 10.
Milan’s Malpensa Airport, ranked 41st, saw the biggest gain, up 21% to 7.167 movements.
London’s RAF Northolt, ranked 34th, was second in gains, up 17% to 8,002 flights.
Venice Tessera Marco Polo, ranked 47th, saw the most significant drop, down 24%.
It was followed by Brussels Zaventem, with a 21% decline compared to 2022.
| Rank | Airport Name | Country | ICAO | Airport Type | Flights 2023 | % Change |
| 1 | Paris Le Bourget | France | LFPB | BizAv Dedicated | 55,751 | -8% |
| 2 | Nice Côte d’Azur | France | LFMN | Mixed | 37,425 | -6% |
| 3 | Geneva International | Switzerland | LSGG | Mixed | 34,273 | -6% |
| 4 | Farnborough | United Kingdom | EGLF | BizAv Dedicated | 29,966 | -4% |
| 5 | London Luton | United Kingdom | EGGW | Mixed | 26,661 | -8% |
| 6 | Zurich | Switzerland | LSZH | Mixed | 25,866 | -9% |
| 7 | Milan Linate | Italy | LIML | Mixed | 25,757 | 4% |
| 8 | London Biggin Hill | United Kingdom | EGKB | BizAv Dedicated | 21,685 | -13% |
| 9 | Palma de Mallorca | Spain | LEPA | Mixed | 17,504 | -11% |
| 10 | Rome Ciampino | Italy | LIRA | Mixed | 17,129 | 0% |
| 11 | Istanbul Atatürk International | Turkey | LTBA | BizAv Dedicated | 15,691 | -4% |
| 12 | Madrid Barajas | Spain | LEMD | Mixed | 14,754 | -3% |
| 13 | Amsterdam Schiphol | Netherlands | EHAM | Mixed | 14,508 | -12% |
| 14 | Ibiza | Spain | LEIB | Mixed | 14,383 | -12% |
| 15 | Athens International | Greece | LGAV | Mixed | 14,154 | -5% |
| 16 | Malaga Costa del Sol | Spain | LEMG | Mixed | 13,835 | -8% |
| 17 | Berlin Schönefeld | Germany | EDDB | Mixed | 13,815 | -14% |
| 18 | Vienna International | Austria | LOWW | Mixed | 13,712 | -11% |
| 19 | Prague Vaclav Havel | Czech Republic | LKPR | Mixed | 13,664 | -3% |
| 20 | Munich | Germany | EDDM | Mixed | 13,197 | -15% |
| 21 | Cannes Mandelieu | France | LFMD | BizAv Dedicated | 12,857 | -11% |
| 22 | Barcelona El Prat | Spain | LEBL | Mixed | 12,068 | -5% |
| 23 | Olbia Costa Smeralda | Italy | LIEO | Mixed | 11,848 | -2% |
| 24 | London Stansted | United Kingdom | EGSS | Mixed | 10,971 | -6% |
| 25 | Hamburg | Germany | EDDH | Mixed | 10,104 | -13% |
| 26 | Stuttgart | Germany | EDDS | Mixed | 9,654 | -5% |
| 27 | Salzburg | Austria | LOWS | Mixed | 9,099 | -10% |
| 28 | Köln-Bonn | Germany | EDDK | Mixed | 8,691 | -12% |
| 29 | Brussels Zaventem | Belgium | EBBR | Mixed | 8,341 | -21% |
| 30 | Bordeaux Merignac | France | LFBD | Mixed | 8,291 | -9% |
| 31 | Düsseldorf | Germany | EDDL | Mixed | 8,220 | -9% |
| 32 | Belgrade Nikola Tesla | Serbia | LYBE | Mixed | 8,193 | -7% |
| 33 | Frankfurt Main International | Germany | EDDF | Mixed | 8,096 | -3% |
| 34 | RAF Northolt | United Kingdom | EGWU | BizAv Dedicated | 8,002 | 17% |
| 35 | Budapest International | Hungary | LHBP | Mixed | 7,865 | -5% |
| 36 | Stockholm Bromma | Sweden | ESSB | Mixed | 7,708 | -10% |
| 37 | Napoli Capodichino | Italy | LIRN | Mixed | 7,672 | -9% |
| 38 | Dublin | Ireland | EIDW | Mixed | 7,559 | -10% |
| 39 | Sion | Switzerland | LSGS | BizAv Dedicated | 7,257 | -13% |
| 40 | Luxembourg Findel | Luxembourg | ELLX | Mixed | 7,231 | -7% |
| 41 | Milan Malpensa | Italy | LIMC | Mixd | 7,167 | 21% |
| 42 | Ankara Esenboğa | Turkey | LTAC | Mixed | 6,693 | 11.6% |
| 43 | London Oxford (Kidlington) | United Kingdom | EGTK | BizAv Dedicated | 6,684 | -10% |
| 44 | Oslo Gardermoen | Norway | ENGM | Mixed | 6,677 | -16% |
| 45 | Basel-Mulhouse | France | LFSB | Mixed | 6,653 | -7% |
| 46 | Warsaw Chopin | Poland | EPWA | Mixed | 6,645 | -7% |
| 47 | Venice Tessera Marco Polo | Italy | LIPZ | Mixed | 6,580 | -24% |
| 48 | Lyon Bron | France | LFLY | BizAv Dedicated | 6,506 | -11% |
| 49 | Toulon Le Palyvestre | France | LFTH | Mixed | 6,462 | 7% |
| 50 | Jersey | United Kingdom | EGJJ | Mixed | 6,408 | -11% |
Source: European Business Aviation Association
Germany, the United Kingdom, and France each placed seven airports in the top 50.
Italy had six airports among the 50 busiest, while Spain had five spots on the list.
Switzerland entered three airports on the list.
Austria and Turkey each had a pair of airports in the 50 busiest.
A recent analysis of European private aviation by WingX shows that despite calls by wealth inequality campaigners to ban private jets, the industry offers connectivity unmatched by airlines or trains.
