Traveling through the world’s airports can be a mixed experience, but some aviation hubs consistently deliver frustrating journeys that leave passengers questioning their travel choices. Recent comprehensive studies and passenger feedback have identified airports worldwide where infrastructure problems, operational inefficiencies, and poor management create challenging conditions for millions of travelers annually.
The Global Rankings: Where the Worst Airports Fail Passengers
According to the 2025 AirHelp Score Report, which evaluated 250 airports across 68 countries, several airports consistently rank among the worst performers globally. The evaluation criteria included on-time performance, service quality, and customer feedback, revealing stark disparities in airport management and infrastructure quality.wildabouttravel.boardingarea
Tunis Carthage International Airport in Tunisia topped the list of worst airports with a dismal score of 5.73 out of 10, followed by Rhodes Diagoras Airport in Greece and Ho Chi Minh Airport in Vietnam. These rankings reflect systemic issues that extend far beyond occasional operational hiccups.wildabouttravel.boardingarea
Africa’s Aviation Challenges: Lagos Leading the Worst
Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Nigeria has earned the notorious distinction of being nominated as “the worst airport on the planet” by aviation professionals. The airport suffers from a perfect storm of corruption, infrastructure decay, and operational chaos that creates a genuinely distressing experience for passengers.regionalgateway
Recent corruption risk assessments conducted by Nigeria’s Independent Corrupt Practices Commission revealed shocking findings: airport officials routinely demand bribes from passengers, with customs officers, immigration staff, and security personnel all participating in systematic extortion. Passengers report being asked for “something for the boys” at multiple checkpoints, with officials directing those without cash to on-site ATMs to obtain money for bribes.infra.economictimes.indiatimes+1
The infrastructure problems compound these corruption issues. Lagos airport’s outdated facilities struggle with chronic overcrowding, especially at departure halls where limited check-in counters create bottlenecks lasting 20-50 minutes. The corruption culture has become so entrenched that officials reportedly make “returns” to superiors who facilitated their lucrative airport postings.travelradar+1
Asia’s Aviation Nightmare: Manila’s Persistent Problems
Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) continues to earn recognition as one of the world’s worst airports, recently ranking dead last among 61 major airports in an Australian study with a score of just 0.24 out of 10. The airport, operating beyond its designed capacity of 35 million passengers with over 50 million travelers in 2024, exemplifies how infrastructure limitations create cascading operational failures.rusuknow+1
Passengers describe NAIA as having “crumbling buildings, disjointed terminals, long lines and overcrowded cupboards posing as lounges”. The airport’s multiple security screening processes create particular frustration – travelers report being scanned repeatedly, including before entering departure gates, with equipment frequently malfunctioning. Recent travelers noted chaotic transfer procedures where passengers are “herded like cattle” through multiple unnecessary security checks.regionalgateway+1
The airport’s infrastructure inadequacies become especially apparent during power outages, which have caused widespread flight cancellations and left thousands of passengers stranded for hours. Many passengers resort to sleeping on terminal floors due to insufficient seating, while bedbug-infested furniture adds to the discomfort.rusuknow
Egypt’s Infrastructure Struggles: Cairo’s Multiple Problems
Cairo International Airport presents a case study in how poor planning and inadequate staffing create passenger nightmares. Travelers consistently report experiencing multiple security screenings, with some passengers undergoing bag scans three separate times during the departure process. The airport’s understaffed operations create bottlenecks lasting up to two hours just to reach departure gates.tripadvisor
Recent passenger reviews describe Cairo as having “endless security checks” with antiquated equipment and insufficient staff. The corruption issues extend to commercial transactions, with airport vendors claiming they lack change for purchases – a common tactic to extract additional money from travelers. Passengers also report luggage tampering during transit, with personal items stolen from checked bags.tripadvisor+1
The newly opened Sphinx International Airport near Cairo has introduced additional complications, being located “miles from the city in the middle of the desert” with no public transportation and requiring passengers to wait in a fly-infested tent outside the terminal before being allowed entry two hours before departure.regionalgateway
United States: Infrastructure Decay in Major Hubs
American airports face their own infrastructure challenges, with John F. Kennedy International Airport leading the list of problematic major hubs. Despite a massive $19 billion upgrade project, JFK continues to suffer from fundamental design flaws that create operational chaos.airhelp
JFK ranks as one of the worst major airports in the United States for delays and cancellations, with over 25% of flights experiencing disruptions and average delays exceeding one hour. The airport’s layout forces connecting passengers to take trains and pass through security multiple times, creating measurable operational problems that ripple across the entire national aviation system.businessday
Newark Liberty International Airport ranks even worse, with 76% of travelers experiencing some form of disruption – the highest rate among major U.S. airports. The airport’s chronic crowds, long lines, and frequent equipment problems contribute to its reputation as unsafe and unreliable among frequent travelers.nationthailand+1
European Challenges: UK’s Struggling Infrastructure
British airports present a mixed picture, with Manchester Airport consistently ranking as the worst in the UK across multiple surveys. Manchester’s Terminal 3 received the lowest customer satisfaction score of any UK terminal at just 37%, with passengers citing poor layout, inadequate facilities, and unhelpful staff.airlinequality+1
London Luton Airport has shown improvement following a £160 million upgrade but still struggles with overcrowding and outdated procedures during peak hours. Travelers report security waits that exceed the claimed eight-minute average, with many complaining about difficulty finding seating unless purchasing food or beverages.philstar+1
The broader UK aviation infrastructure faces systemic challenges, with Gatwick having the worst punctuality record nationally – averaging 27 minutes of delays per departure in 2023. This reflects broader issues with air traffic control staffing shortages across Europe that particularly impact larger, busier airports.1stafrika
The Infrastructure Investment Gap
The aviation industry’s infrastructure problems stem partly from a fundamental investment shortfall. According to airports infrastructure analysis, modern aviation faces a critical gap between required investment and available funding. The surge in air travel demand has placed “significant pressure on airport infrastructure, necessitating modernization, expansion, and optimization”.airlinequality+1
Airport infrastructure challenges include regular wear and tear, insufficient maintenance, constant exposure to extreme weather conditions, increased passenger traffic, and inadequate planning for future growth. Most airports were constructed without anticipating today’s passenger volumes, with the last major U.S. airport opening over 25 years ago in Denver.bbc
As highlighted in research on airport design evolution at alliknowaviation.com, modern airports are shifting toward parallel runway configurations to enhance safety and operational efficiency, but many existing airports cannot accommodate such improvements due to space constraints and legacy infrastructure.infrastructurereportcard
Beyond Rankings: The Human Impact
These airport problems extend far beyond inconvenience statistics. Passengers describe feeling “robbed in broad daylight” by uniformed officials demanding bribes, being treated “like cattle” during chaotic transfer procedures, and experiencing genuine safety concerns due to inadequate security screening.
The psychological impact of navigating these problematic airports often colors entire travel experiences, with many passengers reporting they would avoid certain destinations entirely rather than transit through particularly bad airports. Business travelers increasingly turn to private aviation options when possible, not as luxury but as operational necessity to ensure reliable arrival times.conference-news
Leveraging passenger rights knowledge is invaluable in ensuring a smoother experience even at challenging airports.
Looking Forward: Paths to Improvement
While these airport problems seem intractable, success stories exist. Airports like Cape Town International, which ranked first globally in the 2025 AirHelp Score with 8.57 out of 10, demonstrate that proper management, adequate investment, and commitment to passenger experience can create world-class aviation facilities.wildabouttravel.boardingarea
The key factors distinguishing successful airports include consistent investment in modern technology, comprehensive staff training programs, transparent operational procedures, and genuine commitment to passenger service over revenue extraction through problematic practices.
For travelers navigating these challenging airports, preparation remains essential: allowing extra time for multiple security checks, carrying small bills for potential informal fees, researching airport layouts in advance, and maintaining patience while documenting any serious problems for later reporting to aviation authorities.
References:
- 2024 Recapped: Best and Worst Airports in the World – Wild About Travel
- AirportsUK responds to Which? survey on best passenger experience in UK airports
- 12,000+ flight delays: Pune Airport buckles as traffic increases
- Top 10 Best and Worst Airports in the World, AirHelp Reports
- Five things delaying passenger movement at Lagos airport
Cover picture credits: Ralf Roletschek