The three fastest growing airports in Europe are all in Romania, led by the little-known city of Oradea in the north-west of the country, which experienced nearly 500 per cent growth in 2016.

Following in its wake is Iasi, with 131 per cent growth, and Bucharest’s second airport, Aurel Vlaicu, which saw a 122 per cent rise in passenger numbers last year.

The Romanian trio spearheaded a surge in arrivals across the continent, according to new statistics released by ACI Europe, with European airports recording two billion passengers for the first time, a five per cent rise on 2015 and a figure that represents more than half of the total number of global fliers.

The top 5 fastest growing airports Oradea, Romania - 488 per cent growth in 2016 Iasi, Romania - 131 per cent Bucharest BBU, Romania - 122 per cent Ostend, Belgium - 65 per cent Palanga, Lithuania - 60 per cent

Of the continent’s larger airports - taking nothing away from Romania, Belgium and Lithuania - Dublin saw the greatest increase in passenger numbers, with its figure rising 11.5 per cent, followed by Barcelona (11.2 per cent) and Amsterdam (nine per cent).

London Heathrow was the busiest airport of the year, according to ACI, with a one per cent growth taking its passenger number to 75.7 million.

The top 5 busiest airports London Heathrow - 75.7m (one per cent growth) Paris Charles de Gaulle - 65.9m (0.3 per cent) Amsterdam - 63.6m (9.2 per cent) Frankfurt - 60.8m (-0.4 per cent) Istanbul - 60m (-2.1 per cent)

ACI’s figures highlight how Turkey, plagued by instability, has suffered a decrease in arrivals, sending Istanbul’s Ataturk airport from third most busiest to fifth.

Across the continent EU countries saw a 6.7 per cent rise in arrivals, while non-EU nations posted an average drop of 0.9, mainly due to falling traffic in Turkey.

The country to register the largest increase for the year was Iceland, which boasted a 40 per cent rise in passenger numbers.

The countries with the largest passenger growth Iceland - 40 per cent Romania - 24 per cent Ukraine - 23 per cent Bulgaria - 22 per cent Cyprus - 18 per cent

How European countries grew their passenger numbers in 2016 Credit: ACI Europe

Of Western Europe, Portugal registered the largest increase as holidaymakers sought alternatives to Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia. Its passenger numbers rose 14 per cent. The UK saw a six per cent rise, while Spain posted a 11 per cent rise and France just a three per cent rise.

“Europe’s airports broke the two billion passengers mark last year - an absolute record,” said Olivier Jankovec, director general of ACI Europe. “While geopolitics and terrorism in particular played an increasing role in shaping the fortunes and misfortunes of many airports, the underlying story is one of continued growth and expansion - with passenger volumes growing in excess of five per cent for the third consecutive year.”

Amsterdam Schiphol took third spot in the rankings Credit: Credit: frans lemmens / Alamy Stock Photo/frans lemmens / Alamy Stock Photo

He added that Europe’s airports had welcomed an additional 300 million passengers since 2013, citing improving economic conditions, low oil prices and airline capacity expansions as reasons for the rise.

ACI Europe’s survey of full 2016 traffic included 216 airports which, it said, accounted for 88 per cent of the continent’s traffic.

Away from the likes of Heathrow, Amsterdam and Paris, was Arad International Airport in Western Romania, which welcomed just 375 passengers, according to ACI - a 96 per cent drop.

The aforementioned Aurel Vlaicu in Bucharest had the second lowest passenger numbers, but its growth was 121.8 per cent, while Oradea welcomed just 41,723 travellers.

The five smallest European airports Arad, Romania - 375 passengers Bucharest BBU, Romania - 4,898 Oradea, Romania - 41,723 Monaco, - 80,836 Mosjoen, Norway - 83,518

Looking ahead at 2017, Mr Jankovec predicted similar growth: “This current growth dynamic is likely to hold up in the coming months, possibly until early spring.

“Short-term downside risks related to the price of oil - which is forecasted this year to be almost 30 per cent above its 2016 average - and airlines exerting capacity discipline.

“Beyond that, our trading environment is becoming more unpredictable and prone to disruptions, due to mounting geopolitical risks.

“These include the permanence of terrorism threats, increasing political instability, both within and outside Europe and Brexit.”

The UN’s International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) believes the “global air transport network” doubles in size every 15 years, and that it’s expected to do so again by 2030.

Global passenger numbers, registered at 3.77 billion for 2016, have grown at a rapid rate since 2009, following a two-year, post-recession plateau.