The 25 Worst Airports in the World for 2025
Airports are meant to be gateways to adventure, but sometimes they feel more like endurance tests. From never-ending security lines and confusing layouts to chronic delays and terminal overcrowding, certain airports around the world have earned reputations for frustrating even the most seasoned travelers. Whether you are planning a quick getaway or a long international journey, knowing which hubs to avoid or prepare for can save you time, stress, and possibly even a missed flight. Here are the 25 worst airports for travelers in 2025, ranked by real-world issues, traveler feedback, and the kinds of delays no itinerary wants to include.
1. Tunis–Carthage (TUN), Tunisia “North‑Africa Nerve Test”
Flight delays average nearly an hour here, and AirHelp’s 2025 Score planted it dead last worldwide. Crammed gate areas plus limited dining make long layovers feel longer. Frequent last‑minute gate swaps add a scavenger‑hunt vibe you didn’t ask for. Pack patience (and snacks).
2. Rhodes Diagoras (RHO), Greece “Island Chaos Connection”
A dreamy Aegean runway masks security lines that snake into the parking lot on peak days. Short apron space means aircraft often park remote, forcing hot bus transfers. Reviewers slam the single‑belt baggage claim for meltdown‑level congestion. Great beaches with a rough welcome.
3. Tan Son Nhat (SGN), Ho Chi Minh City ”Saigon Stress Stop”
Traffic‑clogged access roads make arriving a race against the clock. Inside, cramped immigration halls produce hour‑plus waits at busy times. AirHelp ranks SGN among the world’s ten worst for punctuality and service in 2025. Expansion plans exist…just not in time for your trip.
4. Heraklion (HER), Crete “Cretan Connection Crunch”
Built for charter crowds of the ’70s, the terminal groans under today’s record tourism. Limited air‑conditioning and scarce seating test traveler stamina. AirHelp’s bottom‑tier score cites poor food options and frequent delays. Sun, sea…and a slog at security.
5. Hurghada (HRG), Egypt “Red Sea Rethink”
Package‑tour volumes overwhelm check‑in counters every weekend. Delayed luggage tops passenger gripes, followed closely by sparse Wi‑Fi. Low AirHelp marks stem from punctuality and thin customer‑service scores. Dive sites amaze but getting there? Less so.
6. Antalya (AYT), Türkiye “Turkish Tarmac Traffic Jam”
AYT’s charter influx means line‑busting crowds from dawn till past midnight. Arrival halls lack clear signage, sending newcomers in circles before passport control. AirHelp’s poor showing ties to long delays during peak charter waves. Consider Izmir if you crave calmer skies.
7. Lisbon (LIS), Portugal “Lusitanian Late Gate”
Beautiful city views can’t hide LIS’s runway bottleneck; just two crossing runways choke schedules. Passenger numbers outstrip seating, so floor‑camping is common. AirHelp pushed Lisbon into its bottom 10 again for 2025. Time your trip off‑season if you can. Travel Radar
8. Dalaman (DLM), Türkiye “Holiday‑Hotspot Headache”
Fast growth plus limited jet bridges equals endless buses to remote stands. Reviews slam pricey food and minimal shade on the curbside queues. AirHelp’s 2025 data flagged poor customer opinions despite a sparkling new terminal. The beach town bliss starts after baggage reclaim eventually.
9. Hanoi Noi Bai (HAN), Vietnam “Visa‑Line Vertigo”
Late‑night arrivals often meet understaffed immigration counters, causing 90‑minute waits. Transfer signage between domestic and international terminals still confuses newcomers. AirHelp lists HAN among the world’s worst for customer feedback this year. Book that e‑visa in advance; you’ll need every minute.
10. Sharm el‑Sheikh (SSH), Egypt “Sinai Security Snag”
Security is thorough…Some say too thorough resulting in triple checks that bottleneck departures. Gate lounges provide scant charging ports, so power banks are lifesavers. AirHelp’s poor punctuality rating seals its bottom‑ten status. Resort life will compensate, eventually.
11. Ninoy Aquino (MNL), Manila “Metro Manila Marathon”
Four disconnected terminals mean taxi rides between flights; a nail‑biter during rush hour. A late‑2024 study again labeled NAIA the world’s worst for congestion and infrastructure gaps. Long queues for everything from check‑in to lavatories test travelers’ zen. Privatization promises upgrades, but 2025 flyers still feel the crunch.
12. Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), France “French Funnel Frustrations”
Despite fresh décor, CDG lands 181st in a Europe‑wide punctuality and experience ranking. Maze‑like shuttle transfers and surprise passport lines can ambush even seasoned flyers. Complaints center on slow security and pricey parking. Pack extra time and maybe a map.
13. London Gatwick (LGW), UK “Gatwick Gridlock”
AirHelp ranks Gatwick 235th worldwide, worst in Britain. Single‑runway ops create ripple‑effect delays, and train strikes often snarl onward journeys. Food courts fill fast, leaving latecomers hunting for seats. It’s London’s low‑cost hub but budget the wait.
14. Leeds Bradford (LBA), UK “Yorkshire Yikes”
A 63‑spot plunge in 2025 AirHelp rankings coincides with traveler grumbles about understaffed security lanes. The single, sloped runway is notorious for weather‑related diversions. Restaurant scores dipped below 7/10, lowest among UK peers. Not exactly a dales‑lover’s delight.
15. London Heathrow (LHR), UK “Heathrow Headache”
Yes, it climbed 22 spots this year but 178th place is still rough for Europe’s busiest hub. Peak‑hour immigration queues exceed 60 minutes, according to 2025 passenger surveys. Expansion stalemate keeps terminals bursting at the seams. Book Fast Track or brace for shuffle‑mode.
16. Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), USA “Delay City Airport”
A 274 percent spike in cancellations this summer crowns DCA America’s most disrupted hub. Near‑downtown airspace limits create ripple delays after the slightest weather hiccup. Runway construction compounds gate shortages. Carry a backup plan or two.
17. Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta (ATL), USA “World’s Busiest, Travelers Dizziest”
July 2025 saw ATL crack the top three for cancellations nationwide. Its vast layout means missed connections if delays stack up. Staffing crunches at TSA checkpoint South regularly top social‑media rants. A peach of an airport? Not this summer.
18. Washington Dulles (IAD), USA “Mobile‑Lounge Mayhem”
Cancellations jumped 28 percent year‑over‑year, and the quirky “people‑mover” system still divides travelers. Satellite concourses require long walks or train hops. Food outlets thin out after 9 p.m., leaving red‑eye passengers snack‑less. Capital views, capital stress.
19. New York LaGuardia (LGA), USA “LaGuard‑uh‑Gain?”
Big renovations improved looks, not punctuality: 26‑plus percent of flights ran late in early 2025. Runway length limits leave minimal wiggle room for delays. On‑site parking hits capacity fast, nudging travelers to pricey off‑airport lots. Same old bottleneck shinier tiles.
20. Newark Liberty (EWR), USA “Garden State Gate‑Hold”
A 3 percent cancellation rate might sound small until you’re one of them. AirHelp again pegs EWR among America’s worst for delays and customer ratings. Terminal A’s revamp helps, but security lanes in C still crawl. Plan tight connections at your peril.
21. New York JFK (JFK), USA “Jet‑Lagged at JFK”
Feb‑2025 data showed nearly 27 percent of flights disrupted, fourth‑worst in the nation. Inter‑terminal AirTrain closures for upgrades add transfer headaches. Peak passport‑control waits top 40 minutes for non‑citizens. Long haul indeed.
22. Los Angeles (LAX), USA “LAX Long‑Lines Laboratory”
International arrivals wait an average 31.8 minutes and up to an hour at passport control. Ongoing “Landside Access Modernization” pushes traffic onto detours that baffle first‑timers. Only 27 percent of summer travelers clear CBP in under 15 minutes. Hollywood glitz fades at gate 134.
23. Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood (FLL), USA “South‑Florida Snarl”
Scoring just 7.38 on AirHelp, FLL ranks second‑worst U.S. airport overall for 2025. Tight apron space stalls arrivals during thunderstorms, a near‑daily summer affair. Concourse B renovations funnel everyone into one narrow corridor at rush hour.
24. Philadelphia (PHL), USA “Philly Flight Fumble”
PHL lands in AirHelp’s bottom U.S. ten, dinged for punctuality and customer feedback. Aging Terminal F bus gates test patience in winter weather. Loyal flyers gripe about minimal healthy dining after security. The Liberty Bell is smoother.
25. Chicago O’Hare (ORD), USA “Windy‑City Wait‑Game”
ORD cracked this spring’s worst‑disruption list, joining the ranks for missed connections. Intersecting runways create domino delays whenever winds shift. Reconstruction of Terminal 2 means detours and temporary lounges through 2026. Yes, there’s deep‑dish if you can reach the food court in time.
This article was written by a human and edited with AI Assistance
