Henri Coandă handled 17,005,524 passengers in 2025, 6.6% more than in 2024, according to Bucharest Airports.
Signed on 30 June 2026 with a consortium led by Leviatan Design, for the largest airport project in Romania.
The new terminal is sized for about 30 million passengers a year by 2040, with at least 48 stands and 20 boarding bridges.
Design is scheduled for up to 24 months, and construction is reported at about three and a half years after that.
From our project in Balotești the drive to the terminal is about 10 minutes without traffic.
Otopeni airport expansion: the short answer
Henri Coandă International Airport in Otopeni handled a record 17,005,524 passengers in 2025. On 30 June 2026 the airport company signed a contract worth about €18.4 million to design a new terminal of about 176,000 m², sized for a forecast 30 million passengers a year by 2040. Design is scheduled for up to 24 months, followed by construction, so the new terminal is a project for the next decade, not for next year.
For buyers from abroad, the airport is not a detail. It is the front door. When someone asks me why we chose to build north of Bucharest, the airport is part of the answer: from our project in Balotești the drive to the terminal is about 10 minutes without traffic. So it is worth understanding where Otopeni is heading, and keeping expectations realistic.
Henri Coandă in numbers
| Indicator | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Passengers at Henri Coandă, 2025 | 17,005,524 (+6.6% on 2024) | Bucharest Airports (CNAB) |
| Passengers at both Bucharest airports, 2025 | 17,700,242 (+10.26%) | CNAB, via Radio România |
| New terminal, area | about 176,000 m² | CNAB, via AGERPRES |
| Forecast traffic for the new terminal | about 30 million passengers a year by 2040 | CNAB |
| Design contract | about €18.4 million (about 100 million lei before VAT), signed 30 June 2026 | Romania Insider |
| Design period | up to 24 months | CNAB |
Henri Coandă is Romania's largest airport. The second Bucharest airport, Aurel Vlaicu in Băneasa, serves a much smaller share of traffic.
What will the new terminal include?
The contract was awarded to a consortium led by Leviatan Design with Ubitech Construcții. According to the published project details, the first phase of the airport's development programme includes:
- A new passenger terminal of about 176,000 m², with peak-hour capacity of about 6,500 passengers.
- At least 48 new aircraft stands and at least 20 boarding bridges.
- New taxiways and modern baggage handling.
- Road and rail connections, and links between the current terminal and the new one.
The airport company has described it as the largest airport infrastructure project in Romania's history.
When will it open? A realistic timeline
| Stage | Status as of October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Design contract | Signed 30 June 2026 |
| Design and permits | Up to 24 months from the start of the contract |
| Construction contract | To be tendered after design |
| Construction | Reported at about three and a half years |
| Opening | Not before the early 2030s on this schedule |
My advice to buyers: treat the new terminal as a long-term plus, not as a reason to buy now. Large infrastructure projects in Romania have slipped before; see the history of the M6 metro line in our guide to the M6.
What already works today
You do not need to wait for the new terminal to use the airport well:
- Train. A rail link connects the airport to Gara de Nord, Bucharest's main station.
- Express bus and taxis or ride-hailing apps into the city.
- A new bus terminal at the airport has been reported for 2026.
- The A0 ring road north section between DN1 and DN2 is open; see our guide to the A0.
- The M6 metro line to the airport is under construction, with a declared opening in 2029.
On airlines and direct flights from Tel Aviv, see our guide to flights from Israel to Bucharest.
Treat the new terminal as a long-term plus, not as a reason to buy now.
What the expansion means for the north of Bucharest
The airport is one of the reasons the northern suburbs, Otopeni, Balotești, Corbeanca, grew so fast. Ilfov County grew from 388,738 residents in 2011 to 542,686 in 2021, according to the National Institute of Statistics; we look at the numbers in our article on Ilfov County.
For a home buyer, the expansion has two sides:
- Access. More capacity, more routes and better ground links make the area more convenient for anyone who flies often.
- Noise and traffic. More flights and more cars on DN1. Before buying near the airport, check the flight paths and the noise in person, at different times of day. We cover this in our guide to Otopeni.
Living near an airport is good. Living under its flight path is something else. Check the difference on site.
Frequently asked questions
Is Otopeni airport getting a new terminal?
Yes. On 30 June 2026 the airport company signed a design contract worth about €18.4 million for a new terminal of about 176,000 m², sized for about 30 million passengers a year by 2040.
When will the new terminal at Henri Coandă open?
No opening date has been set. Design is scheduled for up to 24 months, and construction has been reported at about three and a half years after that, which points to the early 2030s at the earliest.
How many passengers does Otopeni airport handle?
In 2025 Henri Coandă handled a record 17,005,524 passengers, 6.6% more than in 2024, according to Bucharest Airports.
How far is Otopeni airport from central Bucharest?
About 18 km. The train to Gara de Nord takes about 20 to 25 minutes, and the drive depends on traffic on DN1.
Will the metro reach Otopeni airport?
The M6 metro line, now under construction, is planned to end at the airport, with a declared opening in 2029.
The bottom line
Otopeni is Romania's main gateway, with record traffic and a new terminal now on the drawing board. It is a sign that the northern axis of Bucharest keeps developing, on a timetable measured in years.
If you are considering a home north of the city, book a 30-minute call with me. We will look at the map together: the airport, the roads, the flight paths, and the drive times from each place you are considering.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Sources and data: Bucharest Airports (CNAB) · AGERPRES, new terminal design contract · Romania Insider, 2026 · Radio România, 2025 traffic · National Institute of Statistics (INS) · Metrorex.
This article is for general information only. Infrastructure timetables are set by the authorities and change. Drive times depend on traffic.
Now you know more.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult local professionals before any transaction.
