Next summer, some 54 airports across Europe will have non-stop US flights, based on the latest Cirium data. They include Aalborg and Gothenburg, and the likes of Dubrovnik, Rzeszów, and Tenerife South. Based on Gothenburg's total departing flights next summer, it ranks 90th in Europe, while Aalborg is 172. It raises the question: what about the busiest European airports without US service? (Some airports, like Belfast International, have a tiny number of US flights and are excluded.)

The top 15 airports

The following table lists Europe's 15 busiest airports without any US flights next summer. Some readers may disagree with Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen being included as it's on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, but that's up to them. I've included Turkey as Europe.

Sabiha Gökçen is the busiest European airport without any US service. It ranks 16th in Europe, meaning the continent's largest 15 airports have non-stops. Unlike many in the top 15 table, Sabiha Gökçen has never had a US route. In comparison, some have had them until only very recently.

For example, Hungary's capital, Budapest, had LOT Polish flights to JFK until September 2022, but they aren't returning next summer. Previously, Budapest-JFK had Malev, Delta, and American. Meanwhile, Norway's Bergen had United flights from Newark between May and September 2022, motivated by the absence of Norwegian routes to JFK and Stewart, but it also isn't returning in 2023.

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The table

To determine ranking by departing flights, I've used Cirium data, while US Department of Transportation information was used to work if they've had flights before or not since 1990.

Commentary

Of course, just because an airport is relatively big and busy doesn't mean it should or would have US service. The two aren't automatically linked. After all, what makes it busy? Is it mainly ULCC passengers or inbound tourism from across Europe? Does it really revolve around domestic flights? Nonetheless, it is intriguing.

There are many factors to consider, including the existing and potential future demand and the nature of that demand, the size and economic strength of the area to support traffic and fares for long-haul service, bilaterals (not a problem for EU airports given US open skies), and suitable and willing airlines.

Then there's appropriate aircraft, sufficient infrastructure, financial and other incentives, partnerships, nearby airports with US non-stops, and more. As always, an opportunity must be considered against alternative uses of an aircraft.

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What about Stansted?

London Stansted is Europe's 24th busiest airport. It is, of course, nearly entirely about Ryanair. Still, because of its location relatively near London, long runway, slot availability (generally), and lower charges compared with more well-known London airports, it has had US routes on various occasions.

Most recently, it had Primera to Newark, Boston, and Washington Dulles, and Thomas Cook to Orlando and Las Vegas. Before that, American and Eos to JFK; MAXJet to JFK, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Washington Dulles; Continental to Newark (in fateful 2001); and, in the 1990s, El Al to JFK and Newark and American to Chicago.

Which airports would you like to gain US non-stops? Let us know in the comment section.