- European cities expand airports despite overtourism concerns
- Venice Marco Polo Airport to handle 20m passengers
- Athens Airport expanding from 26m to 40m
- Istanbul Airport launching fourth runway
- Environmental groups warn of carbon budget exhaustion
Several European destinations that have introduced measures to limit tourist numbers are simultaneously expanding their airports. Venice’s Marco Polo Airport is being enlarged to handle 20m passengers a year up from 11.6m. Similar projects are under way in Barcelona, Amsterdam and Athens raising questions about the effectiveness of anti-overtourism policies.
Istanbul Airport is launching its fourth runway by late 2026 boosting its annual capacity from 90m to 120m passengers. Athens International Airport is rolling out a €1.3bn expansion designed to scale up its capacity from 26m to 40m travellers annually. Amsterdam Schiphol is constructing a 592,000-square-foot boarding gate area. Barcelona El Prat and Madrid Barajas are backed by Spain’s broader €12.9bn airport investment plan.
This wave of expansions faces opposition on social and climate fronts. Studies suggest skyrocketing air tourism could fuel European rent hikes by up to €250 a year sparking local protests like those in Barcelona. Environmental groups warn that these expansions will cause European aviation to exhaust its 1.5°C carbon budget in 2026.
