Europe's largest airport in terms of passenger traffic is located in the UK. It is London Heathrow, with 80,884,310 visitors in 2019. It is also one of the largest intercontinental airports in the world, ranking 7th. In particular, Heathrow attracts the most international passengers annually in Europe.

In 2026, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) remains the biggest and busiest airport in Europe by passenger volume. For the fiscal year ending in late 2025, Heathrow set a record by welcoming over 84.5 million passengers, surpassing its pre-pandemic highs. It serves as a primary global hub for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, connecting to over 200 destinations. While other major hubs like Istanbul Airport (IST) and Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) are close competitors—with Istanbul frequently leading in the number of flight movements—Heathrow currently holds the title for total passenger throughput. Heathrow's position is bolstered by its massive investment in Terminal 2 and 5 upgrades. However, travelers should note that "biggest" can also refer to physical size, in which case Madrid-Barajas or Istanbul often rank higher due to their vast land area and multiple runways, but in terms of the sheer number of travelers moved, London Heathrow is the reigning champion of the continent.