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Ranked: the best airports around the world, according to travellers

3,500 flyers left feedback, and their responses have been accumulated into this list of the best-functioning air hubs on the planet

Liv Kelly
Written by
Liv Kelly
Writer, Time Out Travel
Aeroplane landing at Madeira Airport
Photograph: Shutterstock
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Airports can be stressful, busy, queue-filled places, but some of them are actually pretty nice places to spend a layover (we’re looking at you, Changi Airport). 

DiscoverCars.com has asked 3,500 travellers to rate their experiences at particular airports on a scale of 1 to 10, and has ranked any which garnered 50 reviews or more into this list. 

Topping the list, with an average score of 9.21 out of 10, was Christchurch Airport in New Zealand. The car rental company found that travellers tended to have a pleasant experience overall, thanks especially to good customer service offerings and the fact it’s easy to navigate. 

In second place was another New Zealand hub – Queenstown Airport – and Auckland Airport claimed tenth place, with scores of 9.18 and 8.49 respectively. European hubs dominated the rest of the list, with Madeira, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura claiming third, fourth and fifth place. 

These are the 10 best airports in the world, according to travellers

  1. Christchurch Airport
  2. Queenstown Airport
  3. Madeira Airport (Funchal)
  4. Lanzarote Airport 
  5. Fuerteventura Airport
  6. Athens Airport 
  7. Las Palmas Airport 
  8. Malaga Airport 
  9. Milan Airport Malpensa 
  10. Auckland Airport 

Time Out’s air travel coverage

Recently we’ve covered the safest and the most reliable airlines to the busiest and most turbulent flight routes in the world. Keep an eye on our travel news page for all the latest news on air travel. 

Did you see that these were officially the world’s busiest airports in 2024?

Plus: The world’s most exciting food destinations for 2025, according to the Michelin Guide

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