Heraklion Airport in Crete Ranked as Europe’s Worst in 2024 Airport Study

A new study has revealed Heraklion Airport in Crete as the worst airport in Europe for 2024, based on an analysis of Google reviews.

The survey, conducted by Holidu, analysed feedback from thousands of travelers across European airports. Heraklion Airport earned a rating of just 2.6 out of 5 from over 21,000 reviews, with many complaints highlighting cleanliness issues and limited sanitary facilities. One reviewer described the airport as "small and not well-maintained," while others cited overcrowding and poor management.

In stark contrast, Athens International Airport ranked third among Europe’s best airports, scoring 4.3 out of 5 from more than 49,000 reviews. Passengers praised Athens airport for its efficient security process, cleanliness, and organization, with one reviewer calling it "smooth and well-organised."

The top spot for Europe’s best airport went to Istanbul Airport in Turkey, which received a 4.4 rating from over 100,000 reviews. The airport was praised for its vast size, cleanliness, and modern facilities. Porto’s Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport in Portugal came in second with a 4.4 rating, while Zurich Airport in Switzerland and Prague’s Vaclav Havel Airport rounded out the top five.

At the bottom of the list, Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport in France came second to last, with a rating of 2.8. Manchester Airport in the UK ranked third-worst, while Brussels-South Charleroi Airport and Berlin’s Willy-Brandt International Airport also featured in the bottom five.

Europe’s Top 5 Best Airports:
1. Istanbul Airport, Turkey – 4.4/5 (100,000+ reviews)

2. Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport, Porto, Portugal – 4.4/5 (26,000+ reviews)

3. Athens International Airport, Greece – 4.3/5 (49,000+ reviews)

4. Vaclav Havel Airport, Prague, Czechia – 4.3/5 (26,000+ reviews)

5. Zurich Airport, Switzerland – 4.3/5 (26,000+ reviews)

Europe’s 5 Worst Airports:
1. Heraklion Airport, Crete, Greece – 2.6/5 (21,000+ reviews)
2. Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport, France – 2.8/5 (12,000+ reviews)
3. Manchester Airport, UK – 3.1/5 (27,000+ reviews)
4. Berlin Willy-Brandt International Airport, Germany – 3.1/5 (34,000+ reviews)
5. Brussels-South Charleroi Airport, Belgium – 3.2/5 (19,000+ reviews)

The survey reflects significant variations in passenger experiences across Europe, with airports like Athens showcasing excellent service, while others, such as Heraklion, struggle with basic standards.

(Source: Daily Mail UK)