Ruth Haines
While Europe has many great airports, such as Copenhagen, Munich, Stockholm, and Zurich, some travellers have complained about disorganisation and poor facilities at others. Heraklion Airport in Crete has been described as chaotic, with inadequate seating, poor parking, and a lack of air conditioning. Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport has also been criticised for its strange layout, crowded walkways, and lack of WiFi and power outlets. London Heathrow, Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome, and Brussels Airport have also been voted among the worst in Europe.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Lack of seating | Heraklion, Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport, Leonardo da Vinci Airport |
| Long lines | Heraklion, Leonardo da Vinci Airport |
| Inefficient security lines | Charles de Gaulle |
| Poorly organized | Heraklion, Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport, Charles de Gaulle |
| Lack of regulation | Heraklion |
| Poor signage | Charles de Gaulle |
| Inefficient staff | Charles de Gaulle |
| Long distances | Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Brussels Airport |
| No air conditioning | Heraklion |
| Poor transport infrastructure | Heraklion |
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What You'll Learn
Poor organisation and language barriers
While Europe boasts many great airports, such as Copenhagen, Munich, Stockholm, and Zurich, some travellers have criticised certain European airports for their poor organisation and language barriers.
One of the most frequently criticised airports in this regard is Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport in Romania. Travellers have complained about the strange layout, crowded walkways, and a lack of seating, as well as the absence of a free Wi-Fi network. Another issue is the lack of power outlets, making it difficult for passengers to charge their devices.
Heraklion's Nikos Kazantzakis Airport in Crete, Greece, has also been described as chaotic and poorly organised. Passengers have reported issues such as insufficient parking, long lines, a lack of seating, inadequate air conditioning, and overcrowding in duty-free shops.
Additionally, some European airports have been criticised for language barriers, with staff and signage not always providing clear directions in multiple languages. This can make it challenging for travellers who do not speak the local language to navigate the airport and find their way to the correct boarding gates.
London Heathrow, Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome, and Brussels Airport have also received negative reviews for issues such as long distances to gates and baggage claim, dirty facilities, and lengthy wait times for departing flights.
These organisational issues and language barriers can contribute to a frustrating travel experience for passengers and impact their overall impression of the airport. However, it is worth noting that airport management is complex, and addressing these challenges may require significant resources and structural changes.
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Lack of seating
While there are many great airports in Europe, some have been criticized for their lack of seating. One of the most notable examples is Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport in Romania, which has been described as one of the worst major airports in Europe due to its strange layout, crowded walkways, and insufficient seating. Passengers have also complained about the high passenger fees and the lack of basic amenities, such as a reliable Wi-Fi network and power outlets.
Another airport that has received criticism for its lack of seating is Heraklion's Nikos Kazantzakis Airport in Crete. Passengers have described the airport as chaotic, with long lines, insufficient seating, and inadequate air conditioning. The airport is the main gateway to Greece's largest island, with almost five million people traveling through it each year. However, it has been ranked as one of the worst airports in Europe and even worldwide. Fortunately, a new airport is slated to open in 2027, which should help alleviate some of the issues.
London Heathrow Airport has also been cited as one of the worst European airports due to the long distances passengers have to walk and the lack of seating options. Brussels Airport has been criticized for similar reasons, with passengers complaining about the lengthy walks to baggage claim and the overall inefficiency of the airport. Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome has also been mentioned as one of Europe's worst, with passengers experiencing long waits to deplane and receive their luggage.
While some European airports have been criticized for their lack of seating, it is important to note that there are also many well-regarded airports on the continent. Copenhagen, Munich, Stockholm, and Zurich are among the favorites for their efficiency, comfort, and modern amenities.
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Long queues
Staff shortages at airports across Europe have resulted in long queues and delayed flights. In 2022, thousands of aviation workers were laid off during the pandemic and, despite recruitment drives, many airports continue to operate with depleted staff numbers. The situation is exacerbated by lengthy security vetting processes, which can take up to 16 weeks, making it challenging for airports to quickly hire and deploy new staff. As a result, airports have struggled to keep up with the surge in passenger numbers as travel restrictions have eased.
The introduction of stricter security measures has also contributed to longer queues. Following the Paris and Brussels terror attacks, the EU implemented new regulations requiring entry and exit checks for passengers from non-Schengen countries. These tighter checks have slowed down the process of clearing passengers through border controls. Additionally, some airports have introduced new queue management systems, but these have not entirely resolved the issue.
The increased demand for travel, particularly during peak seasons like summer, has further intensified the problem. Airports have struggled to manage the sudden influx of passengers, resulting in lengthy lines at check-in, security, and baggage collection areas. The concentration of traffic during weekends and holiday periods has created significant congestion.
To address these issues, airports have implemented various measures. Some have invested in new technology, such as crowd simulation software, to better manage passenger flows and predict congestion. Others have introduced apps that provide passengers with real-time updates and navigation information to help them plan their journeys more efficiently and reduce queue times. Additionally, there have been calls for improving talent acquisition, streamlining onboarding processes, and enhancing retention strategies to build a stable talent base in ground handling.
While these initiatives aim to alleviate the problem of long queues, the situation at European airports remains challenging, and travellers continue to experience disruptions and delays during their journeys.
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Inefficient security and transfer procedures
While there are many great airports in Europe, some have been criticised for their inefficient security and transfer procedures. London Heathrow, for example, has been described as one of the worst European airports, with passengers citing long distances to walk, poor signage, and inefficient security lines for transfers to flights leaving the EU. Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport has also been criticised for its strange layout, crowded walkways, and lack of seating, making it difficult for passengers to navigate and causing bottlenecks during peak times.
Heraklion Airport in Crete has been described as chaotic, with long lines, lack of seating, inadequate air conditioning, and insufficient parking. Similarly, Charleroi Airport has been called "the worst airport I've had the pleasure of travelling through", with passengers experiencing issues such as a lack of regulation regarding taxis, resulting in problems with fake taxis picking up travellers.
Some passengers have also noted issues with language barriers at European airports, making it difficult to navigate and obtain accurate information. In addition, some airlines, such as Air France and Lufthansa, offer tight connection times that are unrealistic given the lengthy security procedures, resulting in missed flights.
These issues with inefficient security and transfer procedures contribute to a negative travel experience and can impact the overall efficiency and functionality of the airport. However, it is important to note that airport management is complex, and addressing these challenges may require significant resources and coordination.
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Poor facilities
While Europe has many great airports, such as Copenhagen, Munich, Stockholm, and Zurich, some travellers have noted poor facilities in several European airports. Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport, for instance, has been described as one of the worst major airports in Europe, with a confusing layout, crowded walkways, and a lack of seating. It also lacks a Wi-Fi network and has few power outlets available for passengers.
Heraklion Airport in Crete has also been criticised for its poor facilities. Passengers have reported a lack of seating, inadequate air conditioning, and insufficient parking. The airport is characterised by chaotic crowds, with long lines for check-in and a general sense of disorganisation.
London Heathrow has been cited as another airport with poor facilities, with respondents to a survey describing it as the worst. Brussels Airport has also received criticism for its long distances between gates and baggage claim, resulting in an inefficient and time-consuming experience for passengers.
Additionally, Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome has been mentioned as one of Europe's worst airports due to lengthy wait times for deplaning and luggage retrieval. While not solely a facility issue, the time spent waiting indicates potential inefficiencies or inadequate infrastructure.
It is worth noting that airport facilities are constantly evolving, and some of these issues may have been addressed or improved since the original comments were made.
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Frequently asked questions
European airports are not all bad. In fact, some of the best airports in the world are in Europe. However, some European airports have been criticised for issues such as disorganisation, poor language skills, long lines, lack of seating, high passenger fees, lack of Wi-Fi, and poor accessibility.
While opinions vary, some airports that have been cited as being particularly bad include London Heathrow, Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome, Heraklion Airport in Crete, Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport, and Charleroi Airport.
A bad airport may be disorganised, with inefficient and poorly organised security lines and transfer processes. It may also lack basic amenities such as seating, air conditioning, and Wi-Fi. Issues with accessibility, language barriers, and high fees can also contribute to a negative airport experience.
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