Whether you’re in transit waiting to catch your next flight or just arriving at a new travel destination, being in a comfortable airport can make a world of difference. Experts at Stress Free Car Rental have curated a list of countries with the least stressful airports across Europe. The analysis is based on several criteria such as:
- the total number of passengers per year
- distance from the city centre
- car parking charges per week
- number of restaurants
- quality rating score (based on passenger reviews from live flight tracker site Flight Radar)
While Denmark’s Billund Airport topped the list, Luxembourg’s Findel airport was ranked the second least-stressful airport in Europe and had the highest quality rating score of 83%.
Still in the top ten, Vilnius International Airport (Lithuania), Menorca Airport (Spain), Hannover Airport (Germany), Newcastle Airport (UK), Corfu International Airport (Greece), Trondheim Airport (Norway), Turin Airport (Italy), and Cagliari Elmas Airport (Italy), follow in the same order.
Strategic location
Based on the 2022 records, these European airports were also ranked based on passenger traffic. Leading the list, Cagliari Elmas Airport in Italy handled 4,396,594 passengers. Newcastle Airport in the UK followed closely with 4,127,000 travellers. Luxembourg Airport, in third place, also saw significant traffic, welcoming 4,114,291 passengers, underscoring its position as a key travel hub in Europe.
Luxembourg’s Findel Airport benefits tremendously from its ideal location, which is just 7.6 kilometres from the city centre. This proximity makes it very appealing to travellers since it provides easy and rapid access to the heart of Luxembourg City. Whether traveling for work or pleasure, passengers can reach their destinations without the strain of long commutes, not to mention the free transportation possibility in place since 2020. This accessibility improves the whole travel experience, making Findel Airport a popular choice.
Top ten
1. Billund Airport, Denmark
- Number of passengers in 2022: 3,712,400
- Distance from city centre (km): 5.9
- One week car park charge (€): 62.41
- Number of restaurants: 5
- Rating out of 100%: 80
- Total Points: 39
2. Luxembourg Airport, Luxembourg
- Number of passengers in 2022: 4,114,291
- Distance from city centre (km): 7.6
- One week car park charge (€): 91.21
- Number of restaurants: 9
- Rating out of 100%: 83
- Total Points: 34
3. Vilnius International Airport, Lithuania
- Number of passengers in 2022: 3,915,960
- Distance from city centre (km): 6.4
- One week car park charge (€): 45.5
- Number of restaurants: 10
- Rating out of 100%: 80
- Total Points: 33
4. Menorca Airport, Spain
- Number of passengers in 2022: 3,900,935
- Distance from city centre (km): 6.8
- One week car park charge (€): 36
- Number of restaurants: 5
- Rating out of 100%: 81
- Total Points: 30
5. Hannover Airport, Germany
- Number of passengers in 2022: 3,955,425
- Distance from city centre (km): 13.3
- One week car park charge (€): 44
- Number of restaurants: 6
- Rating out of 100%: 76
- Total Points: 27
6. Newcastle Airport, UK
- Number of passengers in 2022: 4,127,000
- Distance from city centre (km): 10.3
- One week car park charge (€): 102.82
- Number of restaurants: 9
- Rating out of 100%: 80
- Total Points: 25
7. Corfu International Airport, Greece
- Number of passengers in 2022: 3,749,106
- Distance from city centre (km): 3.3
- One week car park charge (€): 0
- Number of restaurants: 12
- Rating out of 100%: 68
- Total Points: 23
8. Trondheim Airport, Norway
- Number of passengers in 2022: 3,803,933
- Distance from city centre (km): 32.5
- One week car park charge (€): 53.97
- Number of restaurants: 7
- Rating out of 100%: 78
- Total Points: 22
9. Turin Airport, Italy
- Number of passengers in 2022: 4,193,881
- Distance from city centre (km): 18.8
- One week car park charge (€): 40
- Number of restaurants: 13
- Rating out of 100%: 74
- Total Points: 20
10. Cagliari Elmas Airport, Italy
- Number of passengers in 2022: 4,396,594
- Distance from city centre (km): 10.4
- One week car park charge (€): 63
- Number of restaurants: 11
- Rating out of 100%: 71
- Total Points: 18
Source: Schengen News/ Cntraveller