Unfortunately, flight delays are becoming increasingly common in Europe. In 2023, European flights were delayed by an average of 15 minutes.One And according to a recent study2Almost one in ten (9%) avoid air travel altogether due to ‘airport stress’.
As we prepare for peak season, which airports are most likely to experience gridlock this summer?
To help Britons plan ahead and choose to depart from airports where delays are least likely, Eurochange’s travel experts have created an index of airports with the best and worst pre-flight experiences in Europe.
Eurochange’s research analyzes 40 of the busiest airports in Europe, including the UK, to show which airports are most and least likely to experience delays.
Research has shown that in the UK, holidaymakers are most likely to be delayed at London Gatwick Airport, the second busiest airport after London Heathrow Airport. 43% of flights are delayed at this airport. In 2023, flights from Gatwick were on average 27 minutes behind schedule.
When it comes to airports least likely to experience delays, Northern Ireland’s largest airport, Belfast, is the UK’s most ‘efficient’ airport, with 77% of flights departing on time and only 23% of those being delayed.
Top 10 airports most likely to experience delays in the UK
- London Gatwick (43% of flight delays)
- Edinburgh (38.8% of flight delays)
- London Heathrow (38.3% of flight delays)
- Bristol (37% of flights delayed)
- London Stansted (35% of flight delays)
- London Luton (32% of flight delays)
- Birmingham (28% of flight delays)
- Manchester (28% of flight delays)
- Glasgow (24% of flight delays)
- Belfast (23% of flights delayed)
On the way back from vacation this summer, Frankfurt Airport in Germany is the airport most likely to be delayed, with more than half (53%) of European airports experiencing delays.
Delays most likely to occur at European airports
- Frankfurt, Germany (53% of flights delayed)
- Amsterdam Schiphol, Netherlands (47% of flights delayed)
- Henri Coander International Airport (47% of flights delayed)
- Arlanda, Stockholm, Sweden (46% of flight delays)
- Charles de Gaulle, Paris, France (44% of flights delayed)
- London Gatwick (43% of flight delays)
- Lisbon Airport, Portugal (42% of flights delayed)
- Munich Airport, Germany (41% of flights delayed)
- Edinburgh, UK (38.8% of flight delays)
- London Heathrow (38.3% of flight delays)
Eurochange’s research also looked at amenities at each airport in Europe to reveal the ‘best’ and ‘worst’ delays based on pre-flight experience.
Studies have shown that the best airport to stay in in Europe is Brandenburg, Berlin. When it comes to unique attractions, Berlin Airport scores particularly high marks for its wide range of options for children, including a full playground and a special children’s TV corner. The airport has 45 shops and 33 restaurants.
Brandenburg also caters to the art lovers among us who must look up at the ceiling when checking in. A beautiful magic carpet art installation graces the airport ceiling.
Munich Airport is close behind Berlin Brandenburg, with an average security wait of just 5 minutes, but delays can add up to a lot of time. Its ‘unique attractions’ include the world’s first airport brewery, where you can even get a guided tour before returning home.
At the bottom of the list is Bucharest’s Henri Coandă Airport, making it the most boring airport in Europe. Given the complete lack of children’s entertainment and the fact that airport lounge tickets at Romanian airports cost £40 per person, this makes it the second most expensive airport lounge ticket in Europe after Charles de Gaulle in Paris.
5 European airports with the worst pre-flight experiences
- Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport, Romania
- Heraklion International Airport, Crete Island, Greece
- Porto Airport, Porto, Portugal
- Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, Nice, France
- Warsaw Chopin Airport, Warsaw, Poland
Laura Evans-Fisk, head of digital engagement at eurochange, says: “We created this index to provide people with a useful resource before deciding where to travel to next in Europe.
“Although airport experiences are not always the most pleasant, we hope this research will help people make more informed decisions about where to fly depending on their circumstances. “For example, a family with children might choose to fly to the airport with the fewest delays, while a group of friends might choose to fly from the airport with more delays but the cheapest beer.”
