BUZZ-Istanbul leapfrogs Frankfurt to become Europe's third largest airport

** Istanbul Ataturk airport became Europe's third busiest airport last year, with 61.8 million passengers, according to figures released by airport association ACI Europe

** Istanbul saw passenger number rise 9.1 percent in 2015, allowing it to leapfrog Frankfurt airport, which saw numbers rise 2.5 percent to 61 million

** London Heathrow top with 74.9 million passengers, followed by Paris Charles de Gaulle with 65.7 million

** Many European airports broke traffic records last year as the low oil price, improving economies and lower fares boosted travel

** The positive momentum from these factors should continue through most of 2016, with the exception of Russia, ACI Europe director general Olivier Jankovec says

** "(Risks) range from the unprecedented migration crisis and its repercussions on Schengen to the UK Brexit, heightened terrorist threats, instability in the Middle East & North Africa and deteriorating prospects in emerging markets," he adds (RM (LSE: RM.L - news) : victoria.bryan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)