Holidaymakers heading to London Gatwick Airport should brace for a potentially stressful journey. The airport has been ranked as the most stressful in Europe according to the World’s Most Stressful Airports Ranking by VisaGuide World.
Gatwick Airport tops the list among 30 evaluated airports, earning the highest stress scores primarily due to its significant annual share of delays—41.1 percent. Additionally, the airport’s distance from the downtown center, approximately 43 kilometres, and a high passenger density of 4.89 per square meter contribute to its ranking.
The survey, which included 1,642 respondents from 53 nationalities, also identified other airports with high stress levels. Istanbul Airport in Turkey, with a 31.5 percent delay rate, follows Gatwick closely.
In the UK, Heathrow Airport ranks as the fifth most stressful globally. It handles around 61.6 million passengers annually, with 40.5 percent of its flights delayed. The airport’s passenger density is 5.08 per square meter. Despite its challenges, Heathrow offers moderate convenience with a 28-kilometer distance from the city centre, translating to a roughly 20-minute journey.
Turkey’s Antalya Airport is noted as the 21st most stressful airport globally, with 24.2 percent of its flights delayed or cancelled annually.
The ranking details the most stressful airports in Europe as follows: London Gatwick Airport (UK) – 52 points; Istanbul Airport (Turkey) – 42.79 points; Heathrow Airport (UK) – 37.13 points, and Antalya Airport (Turkey) – 22.23 points.
Eight of the world’s 30 most stressful airports are located in the European Union, highlighting the region’s high traffic and congestion levels. Munich Airport in Germany ranks third internationally for stress, handling 31.6 million passengers with a score of 40.43 points. Italy’s Fiumicino International Airport follows, managing 29.3 million passengers and scoring 35.12 points.
Other notable mentions include: Charles de Gaulle Airport (France), Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (Spain), Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (Netherlands), Frankfurt Airport (Germany), and Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport (Spain).
