Cheap Airline Tickets to Europe

As you can probably imagine, every country in Europe has at least one major international airport - if not several. But if you have ever tried to book a flight to something other than one of the most touristed countries then you know that in order to get there, you probably have to go through one of Europe's main international gateways first. So on this page, rather than list every international airport in Europe (which would take forever, not to mention way too much space), this list covers the primary airports which international travelers are most likely to pass through as they are entering the continent or leaving it. To get to where you are going, you may need to make a few more stops in European airports. And don't forget, you can hunt for deals on plane tickets to Europe and read more about what to do in any European country you are visiting.

The four biggest international gateway airports for Europe are London, Frankfurt, Paris, and Amsterdam - three of those cities are typically considered tourist destinations in and of themselves, while Frankfurt is almost always a layover en route to somewhere else.

London's Heathrow Airport (airport code LHR) is not just Europe's busiest airport, it is one of the busiest on earth. British Airways, bmi, and Virgin Atlantic use Heathrow as a hub, although both United Airlines and American Airlines have frequent flights in and out of Heathrow. But London has two other major international airports, including London Gatwick (airport code LGW) and London Stansted (airport code STN), so be sure to read about all your London airport options when you are planning the best route for you.

Right behind Heathrow in terms of passenger traffic is Paris' Charles de Gaulle International Airport (airport code CDG), which is a hub for Air France and XL Airways France, but which is not the only major international airport in Paris. Paris-Orly (airport code ORY) also serves the French capital, and that is where budget carrier easyJet has its Paris hub. Read about both Paris airports in more detail.

Frankfurt International Airport (airport code FRA) is Europe's third-largest airport, but not because the city of Frankfurt is a popular destination. It is the home airport for airline giant Lufthansa, so if you are flying Lufthansa you are flying through Frankfurt. In addition to Germany's national airline, these are the other airlines which fly into Frankfurt, and you can track arrivals here and departures here.

Finally on the list of big-time European airports is Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (airport code AMS), which is the home airport for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and a Northwest Airlines hub. While it does not have the traffic of the other airports on this list, it is still a common layover for travelers headed to other points in Europe.