The World’s Most Complained About Airports, Ranked

Winter travel is surging again as families fly home, holidaymakers chase the sun, and travellers squeeze in one last bucket-list trip, making airports unavoidable. While some are praised for smooth operations and great amenities, others only add to the stress with delays, cancellations, and disappointing facilities that turn your journey into a nightmare before it even begins.

By analyzing Google Review data from more than 700 airports worldwide, we've uncovered which airports are attracting the highest volume of complaints and how they stack up globally. But no need to panic and rebook everything just yet! Consider this your guide to navigating these problematic airports with realistic expectations and a solid plan. Because sometimes, knowing what challenges await is the secret to actually getting through them. Let's dive in and see which airports have travelers feeling frustrated.

1. Paris Beauvais Airport – Tillé, France (54.24% negative | 11,662 reviews)

• Located 85 kilometers north of Paris, this former military airfield now serves as a budget airline hub, primarily handling Ryanair flights for travelers seeking cheaper routes into the French capital.
• Travelers complain about: Slow security creating long queues and stressful departures.

2. Berlin Brandenburg Airport – Schönefeld, Germany (39.14% negative | 17,641 reviews)

• Opening in 2020 after years of delays, this airport replaced Berlin's previous airports and now serves as the German capital's main international gateway with modern facilities spread across a single terminal complex.
• Travelers complain about: Extremely slow passport control with frequent long wait times.

3. Manchester Airport – Manchester, United Kingdom (38.74% negative | 12,432 reviews)

• As the UK's third-busiest airport, this major hub connects Northern England to over 200 destinations worldwide across three terminals serving more than 28 million passengers annually.
• Travelers complain about: Expensive and confusing drop-off and parking fees that create stress before the journey even begins.

4. Leeds Bradford Airport – Leeds, United Kingdom (38.73% negative | 2,370 reviews)

• Perched on a hilltop between Leeds and Bradford, this regional airport serves Yorkshire with both domestic and European flights from a compact single-terminal facility.
• Travelers complain about: Long, slow security queues described as disorganized and time-consuming.

5. Brussels South Charleroi Airport – Charleroi, Belgium (38.28% negative | 9,372 reviews)

• Situated 46 kilometers south of Brussels, this airport has evolved from a small regional facility into Belgium's second-busiest airport, primarily serving low-cost carriers.
• Travelers complain about: The requirement to use paid toilets, which many find inconvenient.

6. Norwich Airport – Norwich, United Kingdom (36.31% negative | 301 reviews)

• This small regional airport in East Anglia offers limited domestic and European connections from a single terminal, primarily serving business travelers and holidaymakers from the Norfolk region.
• Travelers complain about: The airport feeling like a scam due to unexpected charges and poor value for money.

7. Nantes Atlantique Airport – Bouguenais, France (35.48% negative | 3,430 reviews)

• Located on the outskirts of Nantes in western France, this airport serves as the Loire region's main gateway with a single terminal handling domestic and European flights.
• Travelers complain about: Small, dirty facilities lacking air conditioning and short on seating.

8. London Stansted Airport – London, United Kingdom (34.78% negative | 13,313 reviews)

• As London's third-largest airport, Stansted primarily serves as a base for low-cost carriers, connecting the capital to over 200 European destinations from its single passenger terminal.
• Travelers complain about: Long and extremely slow security queues, especially during peak periods.

9. Tuzla International Airport – Dubrave Gornje, Bosnia and Herzegovina (33.71% negative | 621 reviews)

• This small airport in northeastern Bosnia serves the industrial city of Tuzla with limited European connections, operating from a modest terminal facility.
• Travelers complain about: Limited flight options leaving passengers with few choices and inconvenient schedules.

10. Banja Luka International Airport – Mahovljani, Bosnia and Herzegovina (33.41% negative | 438 reviews)

• Located in the Republika Srpska entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, this regional airport offers basic facilities and limited international connections.
• Travelers complain about: Lack of air conditioning making the airport uncomfortable, particularly in hot weather.

Based on Google Review data, these are the top 5 most complained-about U.S. airports.

1. Columbia Regional Airport – Missouri (28.31% negative | 154 reviews)

• This small public airport serves mid-Missouri with limited commercial service, offering connections to major hub airports from a single-terminal facility.
• Travelers complain about: Constant flight delays appearing to be the airport's biggest recurring issue.

2. Santa Fe Regional Airport – New Mexico (27.67% negative | 171 reviews)

• Situated at 6,348 feet elevation, this high-altitude regional airport serves New Mexico's capital city with limited commercial connections and scenic mountain views.
• Travelers complain about: Rude and unprofessional TSA staff as their primary frustration.

3. Tweed New Haven Airport – Connecticut (27.56% negative | 310 reviews)

• This small coastal airport serves the New Haven area with limited regional connections, operating from facilities that have struggled to keep pace with demand.
• Travelers complain about: Overcrowding and poor infrastructure, with many saying the airport struggles to handle demand.

4. Lawton–Fort Sill Regional Airport – Oklahoma (26.98% negative | 99 reviews)

• Serving the military community and southwestern Oklahoma, this small regional airport offers limited commercial service from a basic terminal facility.
• Travelers complain about: Lack of staff at check-in, often causing long queues and confusion.

5. Fayetteville Regional Airport – North Carolina (26.92% negative | 301 reviews)

• Located near Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg), this airport primarily serves military personnel and the Fayetteville area with domestic connections.
• Travelers complain about: Rude and understaffed personnel affecting overall service and wait times.

Here are the UK's most criticized airports, ranked by negative Google Reviews.

1. Manchester Airport – Manchester (38.74% negative | 12,432 reviews) This UK giant tops the national list as well.

2. Leeds Bradford Airport – Leeds (38.73% negative | 2,370 reviews)

• Passengers most frequently complain about long, slow security queues, which are often described as disorganized and time-consuming.

3. Norwich Airport – Norwich (36.31% negative | 301 reviews)

• Many travelers claim the airport feels like a scam, largely due to unexpected charges and poor value dominating the negative feedback.

4. London Stansted Airport – London (34.78% negative | 13,313 reviews)

• The most persistent complaints focus on long and extremely slow security queues, which passengers say regularly cause delays and frustration during peak periods.

5. Luton Airport – London (32.38% negative | 7,299 reviews)

• Located north of London, this airport serves as a major base for low-cost carriers with a single terminal handling over 18 million passengers annually.
• Travelers complain about: Expensive and confusing drop-off and parking fines described as unclear, excessive, and difficult to navigate.

Based on Google Review data, these are Europe's most problematic airports.

1. Paris Beauvais Airport – Paris, France (54.24% negative | 11,662 reviews)

• This European troublemaker tops the continental list as well.

2. Berlin Brandenburg Airport – Berlin, Germany (39.14% negative | 17,641 reviews)

• The most common issue reported is extremely slow passport control, with travelers frequently citing long delays upon arrival and departure.

3. Brussels South Charleroi Airport – Charleroi, Belgium (38.28% negative | 9,372 reviews)

• One of the most repeated complaints is the airport's use of paid toilets, which passengers describe as inconvenient and frustrating.

4. Amerigo Vespucci Airport – Florence, Italy (37.75% negative | 2,365 reviews)

• Florence's compact airport serves Tuscany with a small terminal facility offering European connections and seasonal intercontinental flights.
• Travelers complain about: Poor signage and a confusing layout making navigation difficult throughout the airport.

5. Nantes Atlantique Airport – Bouguenais, France (35.48% negative | 3,430 reviews)

• The most common complaints describe the airport as small, dirty, lacking air conditioning, and short on seating, all contributing to a poor overall experience.

Here are Asia's most criticized airports, ranked by negative Google Reviews.

1. Imam Khomeini International Airport – Tehran, Iran (31.11% negative | 648 reviews)

• Serving Iran's capital, this airport acts as the country's primary international gateway with multiple terminals handling domestic and international flights.
• Travelers complain about: Rude, arrogant, and hostile staff impacting their overall experience.

2. Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport – Beirut, Lebanon (29.93% negative | 1,004 reviews)

• Lebanon's only operational commercial airport, this facility serves as the nation's main aviation hub despite facing periodic challenges from regional instability.
• Travelers complain about: Rude and aggressive staff making it one of the most consistent issues raised in reviews.

3. Tan Son Nhat International Airport – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (25.87% negative | 6,924 reviews)

• Vietnam's busiest airport serves Ho Chi Minh City with two terminals handling over 40 million passengers annually, operating beyond its designed capacity.
• Travelers complain about: Extremely long immigration and passport control queues often causing lengthy delays.

4. Damascus International Airport – Syria (24.52% negative | 165 reviews)

• Syria's primary airport, operating under challenging circumstances, serves the capital with limited international connections.
• Travelers complain about: Corruption and bribe requests remaining an ongoing and concerning problem.

5. Al-Ahsa Airport – Al Hofuf, Saudi Arabia (24.31% negative | 175 reviews)

• Located in eastern Saudi Arabia, this regional airport serves the Al-Ahsa Oasis region with limited domestic connections.
• Travelers complain about: The airport having almost no flights, leaving limited travel options and long waiting periods.

The Secret to Smoother Airport Experiences: Managing Expectations

The good news is that being forewarned is being forearmed! These airports might have their issues, but millions of travelers successfully navigate them every year. Instead of seeing insurmountable problems, view these complaints as insider intelligence for a better journey.

Turn each complaint into an action plan:

Long Security Queues:

• Arrive earlier than you normally would, at least 3 hours for international flights at problematic airports. Use the extra time to grab a coffee, browse duty-free, or catch up on emails rather than stressing at the back of a queue.

Expensive Parking/Drop-Off Fees:

• Research public transport options or ride-share services before you travel. Many airports have cheaper alternatives that drop you right at the terminal. If you must park, pre-book online where significant discounts are often available.

Rude Staff/Poor Service:

• Remember that airport workers often face the same frustrations you do, multiplied by hundreds of passengers. Leading with patience and politeness can sometimes transform your interaction. If you encounter genuine problems, document them and report to airport management afterward.

Limited Facilities/Poor Amenities:

• Pack your own entertainment, snacks, and a refillable water bottle. Download movies, books, or podcasts before you arrive. Treating a bare-bones airport as an opportunity to disconnect can actually be refreshing.

Slow Passport Control:

• If eligible, invest in expedited immigration programs like Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or equivalent services in your country. The cost often pays for itself in a single trip through reduced stress and waiting time.

Stay Connected During Airport Chaos

When you're stuck in long security queues or dealing with passport control delays, having reliable mobile data makes everything easier. You can check real-time flight updates, notify people about delays, navigate unfamiliar terminals, or simply stay entertained while you wait.

Airport WiFi is notoriously patchy, often slow, unreliable, or requiring annoying sign-up processes just when you need connectivity most. An eSIM lets you activate mobile data before you travel, so you're connected the moment you land without hunting for SIM cards or dealing with surprise roaming charges.

If you're hopping between countries, regional eSIM plans mean you stay connected across borders without switching providers. It's one less thing to worry about when airports are already throwing enough challenges your way.

For this month only, Nomad released a limited-time data offering, its Christmas Value Bundle, which allows travellers to purchase mobile data in bulk and enjoy extended validity for up to 12 months to activate their eSIM. Available from 1–31 December, the bundles deliver up to 50% cost savings across 58 global destinations, significantly enhancing long-term planning for international connectivity even beyond this festive season.

Methodology

For this analysis, researchers examined Google Review data from over 700 airports worldwide. Each airport's total reviews were collected and filtered to identify those with 1- or 2-star ratings, which were classified as "negative reviews." The percentage of negative reviews was calculated for each airport, and airports were then ranked by this percentage to identify the most complained-about facilities globally and by region.