Rome Fiumicino Airport has been named the Overall Winner at the Routes World Awards 2026, securing one of the aviation industry's most prestigious honours for its success in attracting airlines, developing new routes and expanding international connectivity.

The award was presented on the 22nd October during Routes World 2026 in Frankfurt, Germany, where airlines, airports and tourism organisations gathered to recognise achievements in global aviation development.

Officially known as Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, Fiumicino also claimed the award for airports handling more than 30 million passengers annually, making it a double victory for the Italian capital.

The recognition follows a remarkable period of growth, with the airport welcoming a record 51.3 million passengers in 2025 and continuing to attract new airlines and international destinations.

But what makes Rome Fiumicino so attractive to airlines, and what exactly does winning a Routes World Award mean?

Rome Fiumicino has enjoyed substantial growth in recent years, establishing itself as one of Europe's most important international gateways.

In 2025, the airport handled a record 51.3 million passengers, representing an increase of 4% compared with the previous year.

Of those passengers, approximately 10.8 million travelled on long-haul services, highlighting the growing importance of intercontinental connectivity.

The airport's route development programme for 2026 has been particularly ambitious, incorporating more than 40 new routes, over 15 new destinations and four additional airlines.

This expansion has helped strengthen Rome's position as both a major tourist destination and an international connecting hub.

For airlines, the attraction is relatively straightforward. Rome offers substantial demand from tourists, business travellers and passengers visiting friends and relatives, alongside opportunities to connect travellers onwards throughout Italy, Europe and beyond.

One of the most significant developments behind Fiumicino's success has been the expansion of its North American network.

The airport's connectivity now extends to 22 North American airports, supported by additional routes and increased capacity from established airline partners.

Among the notable developments are Alaska Airlines' connection to Seattle and ITA Airways' expansion to Houston.

These routes provide additional options for passengers travelling between Italy and the United States, while strengthening Rome's appeal as a gateway to southern Europe.

North American travellers represent an important market for Italian tourism, with Rome serving as a popular starting point for visitors exploring the country's historic cities, coastline and cultural attractions.

For airlines, the combination of strong leisure demand and opportunities for onward connections makes Fiumicino an increasingly attractive destination.

The growth also demonstrates how Rome is developing beyond its traditional role as a European leisure gateway, establishing stronger links with major international business and aviation markets.

Italy's national carrier, ITA Airways, remains central to Fiumicino's development as an international hub.

The airline uses Rome as its principal long-haul base, connecting the Italian capital with destinations across Europe, North America, South America, Africa and Asia.

Its network provides an important foundation for the airport's international ambitions, allowing passengers arriving on long-haul flights to connect onwards to destinations throughout Italy and beyond.

ITA Airways' growing relationship with the Lufthansa Group also introduces opportunities for closer cooperation, improved connections and wider access to European markets.

However, Fiumicino's development is not solely dependent on its home airline.

The airport has continued to attract international carriers, reflecting the strength of Rome as a destination in its own right.

This combination of hub connectivity and substantial point-to-point demand is particularly valuable when airports compete to attract new long-haul services.

Attracting a new airline involves considerably more than simply offering available runway capacity or terminal space.

Airlines must assess passenger demand, operating costs, expected revenue, aircraft availability and the commercial sustainability of a proposed route.

For Fiumicino, the airport's operator, Aeroporti di Roma, has adopted a strategy focused on building long-term relationships with airline partners.

This includes developing detailed business cases for potential routes, offering tailored commercial incentives and providing operational support during the introduction of new services.

The airport also monitors route performance after launch, helping airline partners assess demand and identify opportunities for further growth.

This approach is particularly important for long-haul routes, where aircraft commitments and operating costs can make unsuccessful services extremely expensive.

By demonstrating demand and supporting airlines throughout the development process, Fiumicino has strengthened its ability to compete with other major European airports for international services.

Although the title of Overall Winner sounds like a general assessment of airport quality, the Routes World Awards have a more specific purpose.

They recognise excellence in route development, airline partnerships and the commercial initiatives that help establish and sustain air services.

Airports are assessed on their ability to attract new airlines, support existing operators and develop strategies that encourage sustainable network growth.

The judging process places particular emphasis on the support airports provide to airline partners, including market research, promotional activity and collaborative route development.

For the airport and destination categories, submissions are reviewed and scored by a panel of airline judges.

The Overall Winner is then selected from the category winners, recognising an organisation that has demonstrated particularly strong performance across the awards' criteria.

This means Fiumicino's victory should not necessarily be interpreted as confirmation that it offers the world's best passenger experience.

Instead, it reflects the airport's achievements in expanding its network and supporting airline growth.

That distinction is important, particularly when comparing these awards with passenger-focused rankings that assess facilities, cleanliness, security, staff and overall airport satisfaction.

Rome was not the only European airport celebrating success at the ceremony.

Shannon Airport in Ireland won the category for airports handling fewer than five million passengers annually, recognising its recent network expansion and airline partnerships.

Cagliari Airport in Italy secured the award for airports handling between five and ten million passengers.

Edinburgh Airport was recognised in the 10 to 17.5 million passenger category, while Brussels Airport won the category for airports handling between 17.5 and 30 million passengers.

Elsewhere, the Moroccan National Tourist Office received the Destination Award, while Transavia was named the winning airline.

The newly introduced Route of the Year Award went to Scoot's Singapore–Vienna service, recognising the successful development of a connection between Southeast Asia and Austria.

Together, the winners demonstrate how route development success can take many forms, from attracting major intercontinental services to strengthening regional connectivity.

For passengers travelling to or through Rome, the airport's growing network should translate into a wider selection of destinations and potentially more convenient connections.

Additional airlines and routes can also increase competition, creating opportunities for more competitive fares and improved schedules.

For UK travellers, Rome Fiumicino is already accessible from several British airports, making it a useful gateway for holidays in Italy and onward travel.

Its expanding international network could also create additional opportunities for passengers considering connections through Rome rather than more established European hubs.

However, an expanding route network does not automatically guarantee cheaper tickets or a better airport experience.

Airline pricing, connection times, terminal facilities and operational reliability remain important considerations when choosing where to travel.

Nevertheless, the continued development of Fiumicino's international services is a positive sign for passengers seeking greater choice.

Rome Fiumicino's double victory at the Routes World Awards 2026 is a significant achievement and reflects the airport's increasingly important position within European aviation.

Record passenger numbers, more than 40 new routes and an expanding North American network demonstrate the scale of its recent development.

Perhaps most importantly, the recognition highlights the value of strong partnerships between airports and airlines.

Attracting a new service is one achievement, but supporting that route and encouraging its long-term success is an entirely different challenge.

Fiumicino appears to have developed a strategy that combines commercial incentives, detailed market analysis and operational cooperation to strengthen its appeal to international carriers.

For passengers, the ultimate benefit should be greater connectivity, more choice and an increasingly competitive network.

While the award does not necessarily make Rome the world's best airport for passenger experience, it does underline the Italian capital's growing importance on the global aviation map.

And with further international expansion underway, Fiumicino's ambitions show little sign of slowing down.