Europe's Top Performing Airports in 2025
As millions of Europeans prepare for their summer travels, a new set of data has emerged to highlight which airports are likely to offer a seamless experience and which might cause frustration. AirHelp, an organization focused on passenger rights, has released its annual global airport ranking, evaluating performance based on punctuality, passenger satisfaction, and service quality.
The results reveal that while major hubs such as Paris Charles de Gaulle and London Gatwick did not meet expectations, several smaller European airports stood out for their reliability and customer care.
Global and European Leaders in Airport Performance
Cape Town International Airport in South Africa claimed the top spot overall, scoring 8.6 for punctuality and 8.7 for customer opinion among 250 international airports from 68 countries. In Europe, the best-performing airport was Bergen Flesland in Norway, which ranked 9th globally and led European airports in terms of punctuality.
Other notable European airports include Bilbao Airport in Spain’s Basque region (16th), Bodø Airport (23rd), and Oslo Gardermoen (28th), both in Norway, as well as Reykjavik KeflavÃk in Iceland (30th). These airports consistently demonstrated high levels of efficiency and positive passenger experiences.
Luxembourg Airport, despite ranking 130th globally, scored an impressive 9.0 for customer opinion, making it the top European airport in this category. Meanwhile, Amsterdam Schiphol (111th overall) topped Europe for food and drinks, earning a score of 8.3.
Notable Performances and Challenges
Toulouse-Blagnac in France, despite ranking 101st globally, maintained its position as the best-scoring airport in France for the second consecutive year. It received strong scores for punctuality and customer satisfaction but slightly lower marks for shopping and dining options. In contrast, Paris Charles de Gaulle, ranked 181st, struggled across all metrics, with frequent delays and low customer ratings affecting its overall score.
London Gatwick fell further down the rankings, placing 235th overall with poor marks in every category. All three of these airports still outperformed Europe’s worst-performing airport, Rhodes Diagoras in Greece. The Greek island hub scored a dismal 6.05, with only 5.8 for punctuality, placing it at 249th globally—just one spot above Tunis Carthage Airport, the world’s worst by these metrics.
How the Rankings Were Calculated
AirHelp’s methodology places significant emphasis on on-time performance, accounting for 60% of the total score. This is determined by flights departing or arriving within 15 minutes of their scheduled time. For example, Rhodes Diagoras’ punctuality score of 5.8 translates to 58% of flights running on schedule.
The remaining 40% of the score is split evenly between passenger feedback on staff, cleanliness, and general experience, as well as services such as restaurants and retail options. To gather data, AirHelp surveyed travelers in over 58 countries and collected more than 13,500 unique airport ratings. The data was also cross-referenced with statistics from government agencies, airports, flight-tracking vendors, and historical records.
The rankings focus on airports with a substantial number of international flights, using data collected between June 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025.
Key Takeaways for Travelers
While delays and cancellations are often beyond an airport’s control, the highest-performing airports tend to be those that combine operational efficiency with attentive service and clear communication. According to AirHelp’s findings, travelers looking to minimize stress during their summer journeys may benefit from choosing smaller regional airports in Scandinavia, where the likelihood of a smooth travel experience is significantly higher compared to major transport hubs across the continent.
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