1. London Heathrow
About: The worst airport in the world (by quite a considerable margin), according to Priority Pass members, is London Heathrow. Surely no coincidence, Heathrow is also one of the world’s busiest airports, with a massive amount of international transit traffic passing through it. The decision to block construction of a new runway is likely to make the congestion and crowds worse. The problems of winter 2010, when the airport was unable to prevent bad weather grounding thousands of flights, have further undermined its reputation.
2. Paris – CDG
About: More passengers seems to equal more unpopularity at the top of this list. Some way behind Heathrow, but a long way in front of LAX, is Paris Charles de Gaulle. Like Heathrow, it is a major international air traffic hub. More than 27 million people travelled through the airport in the first half of 2010, making it the eight busiest in the world.
3. Los Angeles (LAX) Intl
About: Another of the world’s busiest airports, LAX handled more than 28 million passengers in the first half of 2010. In 2009, the decision was taken to begin redevelopment of the airport, which, according to one member of the LA Board of Airport Commissioners, hasn’t changed much since 1984. Work will focus on the Tom Bradley Terminal, which is the main arrival and departure point for international flights.
4. Miami FL International
About: Miami International serves the South Florida area and is a key hub airport for flights travelling to and from Latin America. A redevelopment programme is underway and due for completion in 2011, making the airport’s presence on this list perhaps a little surprising. According to the airport’s web site, a US $1.1 billion New South Terminal has been open since 2007 and a US $2.85 billion North Terminal is partially open and nearing completion. A system of moving walkways connects the two terminals and an automated people mover links both to a car rental centre and train station.
5. Chicago O’Hare International
About: Chicago handled the third highest number of passengers in the world in the first half of 2010. It was also voted the world’s fifth worst airport in 2010 by members of Priority Pass. The airport is known for the relatively large number of flight delays and cancellations caused by bad weather. The airport is currently realigning its runways, which once used to intersect with each other, in an effort to help remedy the problem.
6. New York LaGuardia
About: LaGuardia is the smallest of New York’s three main commercial airports, after JFK and Newark. Overcrowding has long been a problem at the airport, which primarily handles domestic flights. In 2009, it was reportedly joint worst out of 31 major US airports for on-time arrivals. The main Central Terminal has been renovated in recent years and the airport’s management has floated a plan to completely rebuild the airport, while simultaneously keeping it operational.
7. Caracas (Maiquetia) International
About: Simón Bolívar International, known locally as ‘Maiquetia’ is the main international airport in the South American state of Venezuela. It is located around 29km from the centre of the capital, Caracas. Online comments suggest that security and immigration processes can be a daunting experience for passengers.
8. Mumbai International
About: Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is the main airport in Western India. The airport has three terminals, one for international flights and two for domestic use, according to its web site. The airport has undergone redevelopment to modernise it and add capacity. Plans to build a second international airport for Mumbai at Navi, which would take some of the load off Chhatrapati Shivaji, have been slowed down by environmental objections.
9. Cairo International
About: Africa’s busiest airport, based on passenger numbers, comes ninth in this list. The airport has been through a refurbishment recently, with a new terminal opened and existing ones being revamped. That doesn’t appear to have been reflected in the airport’s approval ratings.
10. Manila Ninoy Aquino Intl
About: Ninoy Aquino International Airport is the main airport for international flights to and from the Philippines. The airport’s newest terminal, Terminal 3, is expected to become the hub for all international flights, though most international flights still appear to operate from Terminal 1. Online comments encourage passengers to arrive at the airport at least three hours before departure and to be ready for long queues and extensive security checks.
About: The worst airport in the world (by quite a considerable margin), according to Priority Pass members, is London Heathrow. Surely no coincidence, Heathrow is also one of the world’s busiest airports, with a massive amount of international transit traffic passing through it. The decision to block construction of a new runway is likely to make the congestion and crowds worse. The problems of winter 2010, when the airport was unable to prevent bad weather grounding thousands of flights, have further undermined its reputation.
2. Paris – CDG
About: More passengers seems to equal more unpopularity at the top of this list. Some way behind Heathrow, but a long way in front of LAX, is Paris Charles de Gaulle. Like Heathrow, it is a major international air traffic hub. More than 27 million people travelled through the airport in the first half of 2010, making it the eight busiest in the world.
3. Los Angeles (LAX) Intl
About: Another of the world’s busiest airports, LAX handled more than 28 million passengers in the first half of 2010. In 2009, the decision was taken to begin redevelopment of the airport, which, according to one member of the LA Board of Airport Commissioners, hasn’t changed much since 1984. Work will focus on the Tom Bradley Terminal, which is the main arrival and departure point for international flights.
4. Miami FL International
About: Miami International serves the South Florida area and is a key hub airport for flights travelling to and from Latin America. A redevelopment programme is underway and due for completion in 2011, making the airport’s presence on this list perhaps a little surprising. According to the airport’s web site, a US $1.1 billion New South Terminal has been open since 2007 and a US $2.85 billion North Terminal is partially open and nearing completion. A system of moving walkways connects the two terminals and an automated people mover links both to a car rental centre and train station.
5. Chicago O’Hare International
About: Chicago handled the third highest number of passengers in the world in the first half of 2010. It was also voted the world’s fifth worst airport in 2010 by members of Priority Pass. The airport is known for the relatively large number of flight delays and cancellations caused by bad weather. The airport is currently realigning its runways, which once used to intersect with each other, in an effort to help remedy the problem.
6. New York LaGuardia
About: LaGuardia is the smallest of New York’s three main commercial airports, after JFK and Newark. Overcrowding has long been a problem at the airport, which primarily handles domestic flights. In 2009, it was reportedly joint worst out of 31 major US airports for on-time arrivals. The main Central Terminal has been renovated in recent years and the airport’s management has floated a plan to completely rebuild the airport, while simultaneously keeping it operational.
7. Caracas (Maiquetia) International
About: Simón Bolívar International, known locally as ‘Maiquetia’ is the main international airport in the South American state of Venezuela. It is located around 29km from the centre of the capital, Caracas. Online comments suggest that security and immigration processes can be a daunting experience for passengers.
8. Mumbai International
About: Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is the main airport in Western India. The airport has three terminals, one for international flights and two for domestic use, according to its web site. The airport has undergone redevelopment to modernise it and add capacity. Plans to build a second international airport for Mumbai at Navi, which would take some of the load off Chhatrapati Shivaji, have been slowed down by environmental objections.
9. Cairo International
About: Africa’s busiest airport, based on passenger numbers, comes ninth in this list. The airport has been through a refurbishment recently, with a new terminal opened and existing ones being revamped. That doesn’t appear to have been reflected in the airport’s approval ratings.
10. Manila Ninoy Aquino Intl
About: Ninoy Aquino International Airport is the main airport for international flights to and from the Philippines. The airport’s newest terminal, Terminal 3, is expected to become the hub for all international flights, though most international flights still appear to operate from Terminal 1. Online comments encourage passengers to arrive at the airport at least three hours before departure and to be ready for long queues and extensive security checks.
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