Each year, travelers worldwide experience the highs and lows of air travel, and while some airports leave a lasting positive impression, others… not so much. Since 2015, the travel website AirHelp has been surveying passengers to rank major airports based on their overall experience. This comprehensive review evaluates three key criteria: flight punctuality, service quality, and the food and shopping options available.
While some airports excel in these areas, others lag behind. According to the 2023 survey, Qatar International Airport tops the list as the best airport in the world with an impressive score of 8.39/10. Unfortunately, not all airports fare so well. Below, we look at the 10 worst airports globally based on their final scores. If you’re planning your next trip, you might want to avoid these if possible!
10. London Gatwick Airport (London, United Kingdom)
- Overall AirHelp score: 6.62
- On-time performance: 5.7
- Service quality: 8
- Food and shops: 7.9
Despite being one of London’s busiest airports, Gatwick suffers from frequent delays, though it scores reasonably well in terms of service and dining options.
9. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (Toronto, Canada)
- Overall AirHelp score: 6.50
- On-time performance: 5.8
- Service quality: 8.1
- Food and shops: 7
Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport struggles with punctuality but redeems itself with good service quality and a decent selection of food outlets.
8. Porto Airport (Porto, Portugal)
- Overall AirHelp score: 6.46
- On-time performance: 5.6
- Service quality: 7.9
- Food and shops: 7.6
Porto Airport has its strengths, but flight delays remain an issue, contributing to its position among the lower-ranked airports.
7. Paris Orly Airport (Paris, France)
- Overall AirHelp score: 6.37
- On-time performance: 5.4
- Service quality: 7.9
- Food and shops: 7.8
Although Paris Orly offers good services and shopping, the airport’s poor on-time performance drags down its overall rating.
6. Manchester Airport (Manchester, United Kingdom)
- Overall AirHelp score: 6.26
- On-time performance: 5.2
- Service quality: 7.8
- Food and shops: 8
Manchester Airport is known for delays and long queues, but passengers seem satisfied with the service quality and food options available.
5. Malta International Airport (Malta, Malta)
- Overall AirHelp score: 6.05
- On-time performance: 5
- Service quality: 7.7
- Food and shops: 7.5
Malta’s main airport delivers decent service but suffers from poor flight punctuality, which affects its overall ranking.
4. Henri Coandă International Airport (Bucharest, Romania)
- Overall AirHelp score: 6.03
- On-time performance: 6
- Service quality: 6.1
- Food and shops: 6
While not the worst in terms of delays, Henri Coandă Airport’s service quality and limited dining options leave much to be desired.
3. Eindhoven Airport (Eindhoven, Netherlands)
- Overall AirHelp score: 5.92
- On-time performance: 4.9
- Service quality: 7.8
- Food and shops: 7.1
Frequent delays and congestion make Eindhoven Airport one of the worst, despite reasonable service and shopping experiences.
2. Kuwait International Airport (Kuwait City, Kuwait)
- Overall AirHelp score: 5.78
- On-time performance: 4.3
- Service quality: 8
- Food and shops: 8
Despite its impressive service quality and food options, Kuwait International Airport struggles with severe delays, bringing it close to the bottom of the list.
1. Lisbon Portela Airport (Lisbon, Portugal)
- Overall AirHelp score: 5.76
- On-time performance: 4.7
- Service quality: 7.3
- Food and shops: 7.4
At the very bottom of the ranking is Lisbon Portela Airport. Consistently low scores for punctuality push it to last place, although service and dining offerings are fairly average.
What Makes an Airport the “Worst”?
The airports that made it onto this list typically suffer from chronic delays and lack the seamless passenger experience found at top-ranked airports. While some airports provide good food and shopping options, the frustration caused by long wait times, inefficient processes, and poor communication with passengers often outweighs the positives.
If you find yourself traveling through one of these airports, it might be a good idea to pack some extra patience, allow for additional time, and have a contingency plan in case your flight is delayed.
While these airports may rank poorly overall, some still offer pleasant dining and shopping experiences. It’s clear, though, that timely service and efficient operations remain the key to achieving traveler satisfaction.