With the help of Google Earth, parking site Parkos has calculated at which European airports the walking distances from the departure hall to the gate are the longest. If you are afraid of missing your flight, you should take into account a long walk, especially at Madrid Barajas Airport.
Anyone who has ever been to Madrid-Barajas knows that it is one of the largest airports in Europe.
With a maximum walking distance of about 2.5 kilometres from the entrance to the furthest gate, you can sometimes be on the road for an extra half hour. Terminal T4 is one of the largest terminals in Europe. This vastness makes Madrid-Barajas the airport with the longest walking distance in Europe. However, due to its size, it also offers various amenities and free shuttles to help travellers from one terminal to another.
Milan Malpensa Airport closes the ranking with the shortest walk in Europe. Of the Spanish airports, Lanzarote is the airport where you have to walk the least, according to the study.
The top 5 European airports with the longest distances
Madrid Barajas (MAD), Spain
According to the study, Madrid Barajas is the European airport where you have to walk the furthest to reach the boarding gate. To be precise, 2,503 metres from the entrance to the furthest gate, which can mean that it can take half an hour longer to reach the boarding gate, with T4 being one of the longest terminals in Europe.
Athens (ATH), Greece
Athens International Airport is known for its large terminal and long walkways. Here, the distance to the furthest gate is 2.49 kilometres. Fortunately, as in most major airports, you can use the conveyor belts to reach the gate in less than 7 minutes.
Charles de Gaulle (CDG), France
Charles de Gaulle is not only one of the busiest airports in the world, but also one of the largest. It has three terminals, of which Terminal 2 is the largest. The maximum walking distance here is about 2 kilometres.
Frankfurt (FRA), Germany
According to the study, the longest distance to a gate at Frankfurt Airport is 1.7 kilometres. To make waiting times more pleasant, the visitor centre offers guided tours to discover areas that are normally inaccessible.
London Heathrow (LHR), United Kingdom
London Heathrow is the busiest airport in Europe and is also known for its large terminals. The longest walking distance at this airport can be up to 1.6 kilometres, especially in Terminal 5. This terminal is more than 353,000 square metres in size, which is equivalent to about fifty football fields combined.
Spanish airports with the longest walking distances
Here are the Spanish airports where you have to walk the longest distances:
- Madrid Barajas (MAD): 2,503 metres
- Barcelona El Prat (BCN): 1,127 metres
- Palma Son Sant Joan (PMI): 795 metres
- Malaga Costa del Sol (AGP): 709 metres
- Alicante- Elche Miguel Hernández (ALC): 706 metres
- Gran Canaria (LPA): 460 metres
- Tenerife Sur (TFS): 427 metres
- Sevilla San Pablo (SVQ): 362 metres
- Ibiza (IBZ): 301 metres
- Valencia (VLC): 298 metres
- Lanzarote César Manrique (ACE): 219 metres
Also read: Pet park opens at Madrid-Barajas airport