In France, the aviation sector is not supported and is more heavily taxed than in other countries. The aviation industry has warned that the increase in TSBA would divert traffic away from France. Meanwhile, France, which traditionally maintained a diplomatic balance between major powers with balanced positions, has distanced itself from many countries with which it had very good relations in recent years. The country’s diplomatic influence has diminished over the years, despite the policies of General de Gaulle.
In 2025, Roissy has dropped a spot in the global ranking of the largest international airports. The Parisian airport now ranks 7th globally, down from 6th place in 2024. Istanbul Airport has taken its place, moving up by one spot from the previous year. Turkish Airlines and its hub continue to grow rapidly with a 5.8% increase in traffic, the highest among the top 10 after Hong Kong. The ongoing war in Iran may benefit Istanbul’s hub in 2026, being quite far from the conflict zone.
The top 5 airports remain unchanged, with Dubai retaining the top spot followed by London, Incheon, Singapore, and Amsterdam. Among the two Air France-KLM hubs, Amsterdam has surpassed Roissy in terms of growth, highlighting an obvious issue with attracting tourists to France.
Hong Kong leads in terms of traffic growth, with a remarkable 14.9% increase, moving up to the 8th position and establishing itself as a rising Asian hub after the challenging years of Covid in China. Frankfurt ranks 9th with stronger growth than Roissy, while Doha follows in 10th place with a 3.1% increase.
When it comes to cargo traffic, Hong Kong remains the top airport, far ahead of Shanghai, Anchorage, Louisville, and Miami. The absence of European airports in the top 10 indicates Europe’s increasing exclusion from major international flows. These findings are supported by the European Union, which reported a stagnation in flight offerings to France in late 2025. The impact of increased air transport tax was previously communicated by SCARA and FNAM.
[Fact Check: The content discusses the decline of French aviation and the rise of other international airports, particularly Istanbul and Hong Kong. The article highlights the impact of tax policies and diplomatic relations on the aviation industry.]
[Context: The article provides insights into the global aviation landscape, ranking airports based on international traffic and cargo volume.]
