Airports in Europe

Getting there really is half the fun

So, you snagged a comfortable seat on a wide-bodied jet out of New York's LaGuardia Airport and winged your way to Orly Airport in Paris. Only problem is you are sitting in the bar at the Hilton Paris Orly Airport sipping a nice rouge when you need to be at a hotel near Austria's Vienna Airport for a conference the next day. Not to mention your delayed flight and brutal command of French.

Flight delays and cancellations, language barriers and lost luggage can transform a global trek into the journey that just won't end. On the flip side of the coin, when flights are on time and the local food is amazing and the bed you sleep in is top-notch, flying through a hub is a great experience.

As with American hubs, flights through global hubs are meant to assist connections while they lower the airfare. So it should make sense that when you need a flight to Russia or England, you can go through very busy hubs such as Heathrow (England) or less hectic hubs like Sheremetyevo (Moscow). Right?

The Truth About International Hubs

Passenger traffic is extremely high at many hubs, and connections through them on international flights are inevitability slow. Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson topped the Airports Council International's (ACI) list for total passenger traffic in 2006 - a whopping 86 million passengers - and several global hubs cracked ACI's top 30.

If you're one of many traveling neophytes, check out our inventory of major hubs, their 2006 ACI rankings for passenger traffic, the significant airlines that fly through them and the amenities they offer.

• London, Heathrow Airport (3rd) - This airport is served by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. Shopping at the International Terminal is a draw and includes shops like Caviar House, Clarks Shoes, Harrods, Hugo Boss, Omega and Swarovski.
• Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport (12th) - KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is the major player here. Schiphol's Communication's Center is state-of-the-art, a bonus if you have a long layover and a need to send an e-mail. The center comes equipped with computers, wireless and wired broadband service, laptop and PDA docks, fax and postal services, mini offices and telephones.
• Hong Kong, Hong Kong International Airport (14th) - Cathay Pacific is the major airline at Hong Kong International. The restaurant choices at the SkyMart in Terminal 1 are diverse and include: Hang Heung's Kitchen, Toro Bar and Seafood House, and Ah Yee Leng Tong.