Henri Coandă International Airport (Otopeni)

Location and role

The airport is located in the town of Otopeni, roughly 16.5 km from central Bucharest. It serves as the main international and domestic gateway for the city and region, handling scheduled airlines, charter services and cargo operations. As Romania's primary airport it connects Bucharest with numerous European capitals, destinations in the Middle East and North Africa, and seasonal long-haul routes.

Facilities and operations

Henri Coandă features dedicated passenger terminals, ground-handling facilities and apron space for both scheduled and low-cost carriers. Terminals are organized to separate arriving and departing flows and to serve a mix of full-service and budget airlines. The airport supports cargo logistics, general aviation and charter traffic in addition to regular passenger services.

History and naming

Named for the Romanian inventor and aerodynamics pioneer Henri Coandă, the airport expanded significantly in the late 20th and early 21st centuries to accommodate rising travel demand. Investment in apron space and passenger infrastructure helped raise annual volumes; for example, in 2018 the airport handled about 13.8 million passengers.

Access and importance

Ground access to Otopeni includes motorways, express bus services and taxis linking the airport with Bucharest’s center and suburbs. Its position and capacity make it an economic and transport hub for Romania, important for tourism, business travel and freight movement. The airport also serves as a focus city or hub for national carriers and several international airlines.

Quick facts

• Country: Romania
• Location: Otopeni, ~16.5 km from Bucharest
• Codes: OTP (IATA), LROP (ICAO)
• Common name: Otopeni / Henri Coandă
• Traffic note: Romania’s busiest airport; see passenger figures from 2018