Airports in Europe

Tenerife South Airport (TFS), which is also called Tenerife South-Reina Sofia Airport, is well known by many vacationers from Britain and other parts of Europe. It is the gateway to Tenerife, one of Spain’s top vacation resorts in the Canary Islands. The airport is just 40 miles (60km) from Santa Cruz, but relatively close to resorts on the west coast of the island.

Although the airport is small, there is a fair selection of restaurants and shops. Passengers wanting reading material, gifts, souvenirs, a snack or quick meal will find that the airport caters well to their needs.

Tenerife South Airport is served by a number of low-cost carriers, including easyJet and Ryanair, which connect the airport to many cities across Europe. The airport handles more than 7 million passengers each year.

At just 3.5 miles (5.6km) from the Rotterdam city center, Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM) is the third-largest airport in the Netherlands, serving just over 1 million passengers a year. With just over 1 million inhabitants itself, Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the country (after Amsterdam), and known for its interesting range of old and modern architecture.

There are flights to Rotterdam The Hague Airport from major hubs in Europe such as Alicante, Prague, Antalya, Milan, Barcelona, Heraklion, Palma de Mallorca, Madrid and Vienna, including daily flights to London, Malaga and Rome.

This is a compact airport with decent shops and eateries considering its size, as well as good public transport links to the city center. You should be in and out without much hassle.

Prague Ruzyne International Airport (PRG) is located six miles (10km) west of Prague’s city center. This is the Czech Republic’s primary airport serving major European hubs, and the facility processes more than 11 million passengers each year.

The airport is clean and efficient, getting high marks for quick processing times and friendly staff. In fact, the only major complaint is the high prices in shops and restaurants - common in any European airport.

You’ll find flights to Prague Ruzyne International Airport from a number of European cities, including London, Barcelona, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Lisbon, Istanbul, Brussels, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Dublin, Madrid, Helsinki, Edinburgh, Athens, Berlin, Warsaw, Frankfurt, and Milan. Flights are available from further afield as well, including Seoul, New York, Atlanta, St Petersburg, and Moscow.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) is the busiest airport in the Netherlands and the fifth-largest in Europe, making it one of the continent’s most important flight hubs. With its close proximity to Amsterdam and great rail and road connections to the rest of the country (and Europe), it’s easy to see why Schiphol has become so popular. The fantastic shopping opportunities, helpful staff and popular facilities at Schiphol will probably keep at the top of the list for many years to come.

Being a major air hub in Europe, there is never a shortage of activities and shopping opportunities for passengers traveling to and from Schiphol. Passengers need not be intimidated by the size of Schiphol because it operates out of one easy-to-navigate terminal centered on a shopping plaza stocked with loads of great buys and fun things to do.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is a hub for KLM Airlines. It is also the European hub for Delta as well as Amsterdam Airlines, Arkefly, Vueling, Transavia and Martinair. With so many airlines focusing on Schiphol it’s easy to find flights to Amsterdam. Cheap flights to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol can be booked on low-cost carriers such as easyJet and bmi, which usually make use of the low-cost wing of the airport, known as the H-pier.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is a fantastic airport for travelers. While it has all of the amenities one would expect from a world-class airport and a number of unexpected facilities and entertainment options too, it still manages to have a personal touch and enough quiet spaces to make even the most highly strung air traveler feel relaxed.

Berlin Schonefeld Airport (SXF) is situated in what was previously East Berlin and is 11 miles (18km) southeast of the city center.

Berlin Schonefeld Airport is a popular gateway into Berlin and the eastern side of Germany. Although currently the smaller Berlin’s two airports, it is undergoing a major upgrade. From mid-2012 it will be known as Berlin Brandenburg Airport and will accept all air traffic to and from Berlin.

Schonefeld Airport is used by a lot of low-cost carriers offering passengers a cheap and easy option for a weekend break in Berlin. It is a hub for Germanwings and easyJet. Many other airlines offer flights to Berlin Schonefeld Airport and it is connected to a range of cities across Europe and North Africa.

Although the airport is in the midst of an upgrade, German efficiency ensures that it is still a great airport to use when flying into Berlin.

Vienna International Airport (VIE) is Austria’s biggest and busiest airport, just 11 miles (18 km) from central Vienna. It is often locally referred to as Schwechat, as it is located in Schwechat County.

The airport has three terminals, one of which was built specifically for low-cost carriers. The terminals offer plenty of shopping, wining and dining opportunities to passengers. Shopping ranges from small- change souvenirs to mid-range duty-free items and expensive electronic gadgets. The food and drink options also cater for all, with small coffee kiosks and larger sit-down restaurants.

As a hub for both Austrian Airlines and Niki Airlines, there are many flights to Vienna International Airport. Passengers flying from across Europe as well as from destinations in Africa, Asia and North America can easily book flights to Vienna International Airport.

As the gateway to the capital city, Vienna International Airport provides the perfect introduction.

Shannon Airport (SNN) is the third-busiest airport in Ireland (after Dublin and Cork), currently seeing almost 2 million passengers a year. Flights to Shannon Airport arrive from across the UK, as well as from a few key hubs elsewhere in Europe and the US. The five busiest routes include those to the three London airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted), as well as Newark and JFK in the US.

Shannon Airport was the first airport in the world to offer full US pre-clearance outside of the Americas. However, changes to flights offered in recent years has seen a dramatic (almost 40 percent) drop in annual passengers. The airport has few facilities and is not as busy as it used to be, but staff members are friendly and your experience of this efficient little airport should be a good one.

Home to the first test flight of the Spitfire, Southampton International Airport (SOU) is located 4 miles (6.5 km) north-east of Southampton in the Borough of Eastleigh, England. In 2008 the airport won the Airports Council International Airport People Award for its dedication to customer service and satisfaction, and in 2010, it served just over 1.7 million passengers.

Comprising one terminal building for both international and domestic flights, with adjacent short- and long-term parking lots, the airport’s runway is said to be built over the remains of a Roman villa.

Although small and lacking in shops and restaurants, Southampton International is generally efficient in terms of checking in, security and boarding. Moreover, its close proximity to a number of transport options makes it a breeze getting in and around the city of Southampton.

In general, Southampton International is a quick in-and-out airport. Its small size makes it easy to navigate and its warm and friendly staff make it a pleasure to visit.     

Located about 35 miles (55km) from central London, London Stansted Airport (STN) is a popular choice for travelers looking to find cheap flights to England's capital city. Stansted Airport is home-base for low-cost carrier Ryanair, which serves more than 100 international destinations from the airport.

The most popular flights out of Stansted Airport are to European vacation destinations such as Dublin, Alicante, Malaga, Rome, Faro and Palma de Mallorca. However, you can also access some interesting, more out-of-the-way places from Stansted – so get creative next time you're planning a break.

A highly functional, efficient airport – enjoyed as much by business passengers as those traveling with families in tow – Stansted Airport is a lovely gateway to the United Kingdom's most important city. Last year, the airport handled nearly 19 million passengers. Expect that figure to rise, as hordes of tourists descend on London for the 2012 Olympic Games.