The airport was one of eight winners celebrated at the ceremony held on Sept. 25 during Routes World 2025 in Hong Kong, which honoured the outstanding achievements of airports, airlines, destinations, and individuals in advancing global air connectivity.
Athens International Airport handled a record 31.9 million passengers in 2024, 25% above pre-pandemic levels. Growth has continued into 2025, with traffic rising 6.8% in the first eight months, supported by a wave of new routes. Additions this year included American Airlines’ service to Charlotte and Norse Atlantic Airways’ launch of Los Angeles flights, while Aegean Airlines and IndiGo are preparing to open new links to India in 2026.
“We are super excited to have been presented with the highly prestigious Routes World Award,” Athens International Airport’s Director of Communications and Marketing, Ioanna Papadopoulou said. “This award is a recognition of our team’s hard work and a celebration of dedication, vision, partnership and teamwork! A huge thank you to our airlines for their vote of trust in the Athens market.”
The Under 5 Million passenger category was won by Halifax Stanfield International Airport, Canada, which has expanded its international footprint to record levels. Now offering 48 destinations across 18 airlines, the airport has added eight new routes this year, including four in Europe—Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris and Zurich—driving a 25% increase in transatlantic capacity.
“This award showcases the bold work of our team, the confidence of our airline partners, and the growing connectivity Halifax Stanfield delivers for our region,” Halifax Stanfield International Airport Director of Air Service Christopher de Man said. “We thank Routes for shining a spotlight on our efforts and for uniting the industry to celebrate how we collectively connect the world by air.”
The winner of the 5-10 Million passenger award was Stuttgart Airport, Germany. The airport has expanded its network with more than 30 new airlines and 30 new destinations in recent years, connecting to over 40 countries worldwide and diversifying across leisure, business, VFR and ethnic markets.
Stuttgart Airport’s Christoph Kenner, Director Marketing and Employer Branding, and Laura Fauth-Bischoff, Senior Manager Aviation Development, said: “This recognition highlights the dedication of our team and the strength of our airline partnerships, who trust STR as a dynamic and reliable gateway.”
Prague Airport, Czech Republic, won the 10-20 Million passenger category for a second consecutive year. The airport handled 16.4 million passengers in 2024, an 18% increase on the previous year, and expects traffic to reach 17.8 million in 2025. Its network has expanded to 180 destinations served by 80 airlines, with 27 new routes added in the past 12 months.
Jiri Vyskoc, Executive Director of Aviation Business Development, at Prague Airport, said: “Winning this prestigious award for the second year in a row is an exceptional achievement and a strong signal that our work continues to deliver long-term, internationally recognized results. Defending our title in such strong global competition confirms the quality of our approach to route development and airline partnerships.”
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) was named the winner of the Destination category. In partnership with Harry Reid International Airport, LVCVA has helped to deliver record-breaking connectivity and visitor growth. In FY2025, inbound seat capacity reached 35.5 million—22% above 2019—across a record 174 nonstop markets served by 34 airlines.
“Being recognized as ‘Best Destination’ by Routes World is a powerful testament to our city’s global appeal and continued evolution,” LVCVA CEO and President Steve Hill said. “With unprecedented air service, including a record number of nonstop markets served and seats into Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas is more accessible than ever.”
The Airline award was won by easyJet, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2025. Since launching, the airline has carried more than 1.2 billion passengers and today operates over 1,100 routes across 150 airports in 35 countries. Recent network expansion has included new destinations like Cape Verde, Tbilisi and Tromsø.
Shane Lord, easyJet’s Director of Network, Strategy and Fleet, said: “We are very proud to have won the Airline award, which recognises easyJet’s strategic network expansion, our commitment to connectivity, and strong partnerships with airports and tourism boards around Europe and beyond. We celebrate our 30th birthday this year, having in that time changed the way people fly by democratising travel and making it accessible to a wider range of people.”
In the Rising Star category, which recognises the potential of individuals who are in the early stages of their career, Wizz Air Airport Development Manager Daria Sergeeva was named the winner. After beginning her career at St. Petersburg Airport, she joined the airline in 2022 and now leads a portfolio of more than 30 airports.
“Winning the Rising Star award is a great career milestone and I hope it inspires others—especially young professionals and women in aviation—to believe in their potential,” Sergeeva said. “Aviation has always challenged me to grow, innovate, and lead with purpose, and I am excited to continue contributing to the future of our amazing industry.”
Lastly, the Individual Leadership Award, which celebrates the lifetime achievements of an individual within the route development community, was won by Roberto de Oliveira Luiz, Head of Business Aviation at Corporación América Airports. He has more than four decades of experience and currently leads global airline partnerships across the group’s 53 airports.
“I would like to thank the airlines for the honor of being the winner of this prestigious award, which motivates me even more to continue working hard to increase the air connectivity at our airports,” de Oliveira Luiz said.
The Airport and Destination categories were reviewed and scored by a panel of airline judges. The Individual Leadership, Rising Star, and Airline categories were reviewed and scored by a panel of editorial judges. Now in its 30th year, Routes World brings together airline, airport, and destination decision-makers to define the world’s route networks.
Full list of the Routes World Awards 2025 winners:
Under 5 Million: Halifax Stanfield International Airport
5-10 Million: Stuttgart Airport
10-20 Million: Prague Airport
Over 20 Million: Athens International Airport
Destination: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
Airline: easyJet
Rising Star: Daria Sergeeva, Airport Development Manager, Wizz Air
Individual Leadership: Roberto de Oliveira Luiz, Head of Business Aviation, Corporación América Airports
Overall Winner: Athens International Airport
Tags: Ioanna Papadopoulou, Overall Winner Athens International Airport, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), Routes World Awards 2025
