Europe’s Best Airports Named in 2025 Passenger Experience Awards
Airports across Europe have been recognised for customer experience in the latest Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards released by Airports Council International (ACI World). Based on feedback gathered directly from travellers, the annual rankings highlight airports that perform strongly in comfort, efficiency and service quality. More than 700,000 passengers worldwide took part in surveys assessing real experiences during departures and arrivals throughout 2025.
The awards cover several categories linked to how smoothly people move through airports, including staff support, cleanliness, ease of navigation and overall atmosphere. According to ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci, passenger satisfaction continues to improve despite increasing traffic levels. The programme marks its twentieth year, reflecting long-term efforts by airport operators to improve day-to-day journeys rather than focusing only on infrastructure expansion.
“Airports are demonstrating that passenger satisfaction can continue to rise despite growing pressure."
Best European Airports at Departures in 2025
Winners were grouped by annual passenger numbers:
- Over 40 million: Madrid-Barajas, Rome Fiumicino
- 25–40 million: Copenhagen, Vienna, Zurich
- 15–25 million: Gran Canaria, Helsinki, Prague
Several airports were also recognised for offering the easiest airport journey, including Barcelona-El Prat, Milan Linate and Skopje International Airport. No European hubs received awards in the arrivals category this year.
Recognition across different airport size categories shows that smooth journeys are no longer limited to Europe’s largest hubs. Airports such as Helsinki, Prague and Gran Canaria continue handling steady transfer and leisure traffic thanks to compact layouts and shorter walking distances. Rome Fiumicino and Madrid-Barajas continue operating extensive long-haul services together with high-demand southern routes.
Time spent at the airport often shapes first impressions of a trip. Clear signs and security checks that move at a steady pace make departures easier to manage during peak periods. Airports where terminal changes are simple and walking routes remain clear are frequently chosen again when planning future connections.
