Bucharest's two airports handled 8,459,576 passengers from January to June 2026, up 5.08% (CNAB).
Etihad starts flying Abu Dhabi to Bucharest on 17 December 2026, with a TAROM codeshare.
From our project in Balotești to Henri Coandă airport: about 10 minutes by car without traffic.
Direct flights from Bucharest: the short answer
Henri Coandă International Airport in Otopeni (OTP) is Romania's largest airport. It handled about 17 million passengers in 2025, and Bucharest's two airports together handled 8,459,576 passengers in the first half of 2026, 5.08% more than a year earlier, according to Bucharest Airports National Company (CNAB), as reported by Forbes România.
From Otopeni you can fly direct to most capitals of the European Union and to several cities around them: London, Paris, Rome, Madrid, Vienna, Amsterdam, Brussels, Berlin, Warsaw, Athens, Prague, Budapest, Lisbon, Dublin and others. Towards the Gulf there are direct flights to Dubai and Doha, and Etihad plans to start flying to Abu Dhabi on 17 December 2026.
In plain words: for most European business trips and family visits, Bucharest is one direct flight away, and the airport is about 10 minutes by car from Balotești.
For flights from Israel, see our separate guide to flights from Israel to Bucharest. For the airport's future, see the Otopeni airport expansion.
Henri Coandă in numbers
| Indicator | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Passengers at Henri Coandă, 2025 | about 17 million, a record | CNAB, via Agerpres |
| Passengers at both Bucharest airports, 2025 | over 17.7 million | CNAB, via Agerpres |
| Passengers at both airports, January to June 2026 | 8,459,576 (+5.08%) | CNAB, via Forbes România |
| Passengers at Henri Coandă, January to June 2026 | over 7.7 million | CNAB, via Forbes România |
| New terminal in design | about 176,000 m² | CNAB |
The second Bucharest airport, Aurel Vlaicu in Băneasa, is much smaller: 745,674 passengers in the first half of 2026. Nearly all international flights use Otopeni.
European capitals with direct flights
The table below was compiled on 22 October 2026 from public route listings for the winter 2026/27 season. We could not open the airport's own destination page, so treat it as a guide and confirm each route with the airline before you book. "Seasonal" means the route runs only part of the year.
| Capital | Airlines flying direct from Otopeni |
|---|---|
| London | British Airways (Heathrow), Wizz Air (Luton), Ryanair (Stansted) |
| Paris | Air France and TAROM (Charles de Gaulle); Wizz Air and Ryanair (Beauvais) |
| Rome | Wizz Air (Fiumicino), Ryanair (Ciampino), TAROM (seasonal) |
| Madrid | TAROM, Wizz Air, Ryanair; Iberia (seasonal) |
| Vienna | Austrian Airlines, Ryanair |
| Amsterdam | KLM, TAROM |
| Brussels | TAROM, HiSky; Wizz Air and Ryanair fly to Charleroi |
| Berlin | Wizz Air, Ryanair |
| Warsaw | LOT Polish Airlines |
| Athens | Aegean Airlines, TAROM, Wizz Air |
| Prague | TAROM, Wizz Air |
| Budapest | TAROM |
| Sofia | TAROM |
| Belgrade | Air Serbia |
| Chișinău | TAROM, Wizz Air, HiSky |
| Lisbon | Wizz Air |
| Dublin | Ryanair, HiSky |
| Copenhagen | Wizz Air |
| Riga | airBaltic |
| Luxembourg | Luxair |
| Helsinki, Oslo, Stockholm | Norwegian (Stockholm seasonal) |
| Valletta (Malta) | Ryanair, Wizz Air |
Besides the capitals, there are direct flights to Europe's big hubs, such as Frankfurt and Munich (Lufthansa), Zurich (Swiss) and Istanbul (Turkish Airlines, Pegasus). From these hubs you can connect almost anywhere.
Since 31 March 2024, flights between Romania and other Schengen countries have no passport checks for people. Our guide to Romania in Schengen explains what that means for travellers.
For most European trips, Bucharest is one direct flight away.
The Gulf: Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi
| City | Airline | Status, October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Wizz Air | Resumes on 25 October 2026, seven flights a week, according to Wall-Street.ro |
| Dubai | flydubai | Listed on current route lists; check the schedule with the airline |
| Doha | Qatar Airways | Listed on current route lists; check the schedule with the airline |
| Abu Dhabi | Etihad Airways | New route from 17 December 2026, announced by Etihad with a TAROM codeshare |
Two notes. Wizz Air's return to Dubai follows new security assessments, including the conflict-zone guidance of the EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Wall-Street.ro reported. Flights to the region can change at short notice, so check the current status before you plan. And the Etihad and TAROM codeshare will let travellers book one ticket from Abu Dhabi to TAROM destinations such as Cluj-Napoca, Iași, Timișoara, Belgrade, Budapest, Chișinău and Sofia.
Full-service or low-cost: what changes for you
| Full-service airlines | Low-cost airlines | |
|---|---|---|
| Examples at Otopeni | TAROM, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Austrian, LOT, Aegean, British Airways | Wizz Air, Ryanair |
| Baggage | Usually included or easy to add | Hand luggage only in the base fare |
| Connections | One ticket through a hub, bags checked through | Usually point to point |
| Airports abroad | Usually the main airport | Sometimes a secondary one (Beauvais, Charleroi, Luton) |
Compare the total price, not the base fare, and check which airport you land at. Beauvais is a long way from central Paris.
From the airport to the northern suburbs
| From Henri Coandă to | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Balotești (our project) | Car | about 10 minutes without traffic |
| Gara de Nord, Bucharest's main station | Train | about 20 to 25 minutes |
| Central Bucharest | Car | depends heavily on traffic |
The airport sits between the city and the northern suburbs. For someone living in Balotești, Corbeanca or Snagov, the trip to the airport hardly touches Bucharest's traffic. The M6 metro line to the airport is under construction with a declared opening in 2029; see our guide to the M6 line.
Living near an airport is convenient. Living under its flight path is something else. We cover noise in our guide to airport noise in Otopeni and Balotești.
Planning travel from a home in north Bucharest: 5 steps
- List the cities you fly to often. Work, family, holidays. Check which have a direct flight.
- Check the airline and the airport abroad. The same city can mean two very different airports.
- Check the season. Some routes run only in summer. Winter schedules start at the end of October.
- Allow for security changes in the Gulf. Have a plan B through a European hub.
- Test the drive to the terminal. At the hour you would leave for an early flight.
Frequently asked questions
Which European capitals can I fly to direct from Bucharest?
Most EU capitals, including London, Paris, Rome, Madrid, Vienna, Amsterdam, Brussels, Berlin, Warsaw, Athens, Prague, Budapest, Lisbon and Dublin, plus nearby capitals such as Belgrade and Chișinău. Routes and seasons change, so confirm with the airline.
Are there direct flights from Bucharest to Dubai?
Yes. Wizz Air resumes daily flights on 25 October 2026, and flydubai also serves the route. Check the current schedule before booking, as flights to the region can change at short notice.
When does Etihad start flying to Bucharest?
Etihad has announced a new Abu Dhabi to Bucharest route from 17 December 2026, together with a codeshare with TAROM.
How many passengers does Bucharest airport handle?
About 17 million passengers used Henri Coandă in 2025, a record, according to CNAB. In the first half of 2026 the two Bucharest airports together handled 8,459,576 passengers, 5.08% more than a year earlier.
How far is the airport from Balotești?
About 10 minutes by car without traffic, from our project in Balotești. The airport lies between the northern suburbs and the city.
The bottom line
Bucharest is well connected. Most EU capitals are one direct flight away, and the Gulf routes are growing for winter 2026/27, with Etihad's new route to Abu Dhabi. For someone who flies often, the northern suburbs are on the airport's side of the city.
If you are thinking about a home north of Bucharest and want to see how it fits your travel, book a 30-minute call with me. Compass on the Lake, our project in Balotești, is about 10 minutes from the terminal.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Sources: Forbes România: CNAB, 8.46 million passengers in H1 2026 · Curs de guvernare (Agerpres): CNAB 2025 passenger record · Wall-Street.ro: Wizz Air resumes Dubai · Etihad and TAROM codeshare announcement (Air Cargo Week) · Bucharest Airports (CNAB)
This article is for general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Routes, airlines and schedules are current as of 22 October 2026 and change by season; confirm every flight with the airline before you book. Driving times are measured from one point in Balotești without traffic.
Now you know more.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult local professionals before any transaction.
