A recent study evaluating the stress levels experienced by travelers at major European airports has identified Lisbon Airport in Portugal as the most stressful, followed by Manchester Airport and London Stansted in England. The research, conducted by luggage brand and manufacturer Eminent, analysed data from 30 key airports across Europe using 2025 flight performance statistics alongside passenger feedback.

The study compiled a stress score on a scale from 0 to 100, where higher scores represent a more stressful airport experience. Factors considered included departure and arrival punctuality, average delays, security checkpoint waiting times, and traveller review analysis. Tens of thousands of reviews were assessed to determine average passenger ratings and the proportion of negative feedback.

Lisbon Airport topped the list with a stress score of 100, mainly due to its poor departure punctuality, with only 50% of flights leaving on time in 2025. The airport faced average departure delays of 25.2 minutes and security queues averaging 20 minutes. In addition, approximately 55% of traveller reviews were negative, signaling widespread passenger dissatisfaction.

Manchester Airport ranked second with a score of 85.7. It had a departure punctuality rate of 66.2%, with flights delayed by an average of 18.8 minutes. The airport also recorded the lowest average traveller rating within the top 10 airports, at 3.2 out of 5, accompanied by 48% negative reviews.

London Stansted followed with a stress score of 72.6. It recorded a slightly better on-time departure rate of 72.6% but faced challenges in passenger experience. About 45% of the reviews were negative, resulting in a traveller rating of 3.3 out of 5.

Other airports in the upper tier included Nice Côte d’Azur Airport in France, scoring 65, where 62.7% of departures were on time, with average delays of 20.6 minutes and 15 minutes spent in security queues. Despite 36% negative reviews, it maintained a relatively positive traveller rating of 3.9 out of 5.

Milan Malpensa Airport in Italy ranked fifth with a score of 63. It saw 68% of flights depart on schedule, with delays close to 20 minutes on average, security wait times near 15 minutes, and 41% of reviews considered negative.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport ranked lower with a score of 59. While only 61.1% of departures were punctual, the airport had a short average security wait of just 3.4 minutes. This suggests that factors beyond security queues, such as crowded terminals or facility conditions, may contribute to overall passenger stress.

The study highlights that long delays, slow security procedures, and poor punctuality significantly impact traveller stress, but other issues such as terminal congestion, maintenance problems, and quality of service also play important roles in shaping the airport experience.