Published on December 4, 2025
By: Tuhin Sarkar
Newark Liberty has now joined London Stansted, Palma de Mallorca, and Charles de Gaulle as one of the worst airports where passengers face constant flight nightmares. According to new research, these airports are becoming increasingly frustrating for travelers, with delays, overcrowding, and baggage mishaps causing significant headaches.
The new study reveals how Newark Liberty, along with London Stansted, Palma de Mallorca, and Charles de Gaulle, continues to fall short in providing a seamless travel experience. These airports, notorious for their operational struggles, contribute to a global rise in travel frustrations. As more passengers deal with delays and overcrowded terminals, the travel experience at Newark Liberty and these other major hubs is quickly becoming a nightmare.
Stay tuned as we reveal the findings of this research and why Newark Liberty, London Stansted, and other airports are now the most dreaded places to fly through in 2026.
Travel in 2026 is about to get even more frustrating as the world’s worst airports continue to rank high on passenger frustration. According to the latest report by Sail Croatia, London Stansted has claimed the top spot as the worst airport for travelers. A staggering 75.5% of flights here are delayed, making it a headache for anyone hoping to reach their destination on time. But Stansted isn’t alone. Airports like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta and Charles de Gaulle in Paris are also contributing to the growing list of travel nightmares. If you’re planning to fly in 2026, be prepared for overcrowded terminals, long delays, and the frustration of lost luggage as these airports struggle to keep up with the growing demand. It’s not just about flights anymore—these terminals are overwhelmed, and passengers are suffering the consequences.
Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, USA, has a 28.89% delay rate, making it one of the most frustrating airports in North America. Although it doesn’t have as high a delay rate as Stansted or Charles de Gaulle, the overcrowding and operational issues make Newark a challenge for passengers. Serving 43 million passengers annually, it has a 5.95 million passenger density per square kilometre, contributing to its high frustration levels.
With 1.4K lost luggage searches each year, Newark Liberty continues to face significant challenges in baggage handling, further exacerbating the traveler experience. The airport’s aging infrastructure and crowded terminals make it one of the worst places to pass through when traveling in the USA.
London Stansted, ranked as the worst airport for travelers globally, takes the crown for the highest flight delay rate. With 75.5% of flights running late, passengers here experience constant disruptions. The airport, which serves around 28 million passengers annually, struggles with overcrowded terminals and limited space. At just 9.6 square kilometers, Stansted is one of the smallest major airports and, with millions passing through, it often feels like a claustrophobic nightmare. In addition to the constant delays, passengers also face the hassle of lost baggage, with 870 searches annually for missing items. If you’re heading to or from the UK in 2026, prepare for a less-than-pleasant experience at Stansted, where delays, crowds, and confusion await.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the USA is another major hub causing headaches for travelers. Ranking second on the list of the worst airports for 2026, this airport is the busiest in the world in terms of passenger traffic, with over 108 million passengers moving through its terminals annually. Despite its massive scale, Atlanta’s terminals are always packed, and passengers are often left struggling with limited seating and long waits. Lost luggage is a big problem here, with 35,810 online searches for missing bags each year. The overwhelming crowds and chronic delays make Hartsfield-Jackson one of the most frustrating airports for travelers, where the dream of smooth travel is far from reality.
Charles de Gaulle Airport, located in Paris, is another airport to avoid in 2026. With 62.1% of flights delayed, it ranks as the third-worst airport for passenger frustration. Serving over 70 million passengers annually, Charles de Gaulle faces severe operational issues, including overcrowding, delayed flights, and a general lack of efficiency. Despite being one of the largest airports in Europe, the terminal is often chaotic, leaving passengers stuck in long queues and lost luggage searches. Travelers heading to France should brace themselves for a disorganized experience, as the French airport continues to struggle to handle its ever-growing passenger numbers.
In addition to Stansted, London Gatwick Airport is also causing major headaches for travelers in 2026. With 30.7% of flights delayed, this airport ranks high on the list of problematic terminals. Serving over 43 million passengers annually, Gatwick is another overcrowded UK hub that struggles with limited space and operational inefficiency. Passengers often face the frustration of missing connecting flights due to the overcrowded terminals, and with only 7 square kilometers of space, there’s barely enough room to breathe. Gatwick’s reputation for delays and packed terminals makes it another airport that travelers should avoid if they value a smooth journey.
London Heathrow, the busiest airport in Europe, rounds out the top five in the worst airports for 2026. With 24.6% of flights delayed, Heathrow’s massive scale does little to alleviate the congestion and operational chaos. Serving 84 million passengers annually, Heathrow is overwhelmed by passenger traffic, and its 8.3 square kilometers of space can’t keep up with the demand. Passengers often find themselves dealing with long queues and significant delays. Additionally, 5,400 baggage searches each year highlight the airport’s struggle to keep luggage in check. If you’re flying through Heathrow, prepare for crowded terminals, delays, and the stress of navigating one of the most chaotic airports in Europe.
Palma de Mallorca Airport, located in Spain, comes in at sixth place for having one of the worst airport experiences. With 40.5% of flights delayed, this airport sees a large number of tourists each year, particularly during the summer months. The airport has a passenger density of 4.93 million per square kilometre, contributing to the feeling of being overcrowded and rushed.
Despite handling only 30 million passengers annually, Palma de Mallorca struggles to keep up with the increasing demand, resulting in high delay rates and long queues. The airport also sees 20 lost luggage searches every year, which can cause additional inconvenience for travelers.
While London Stansted, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, and Charles de Gaulle dominate the list of the most frustrating airports, several other major international terminals also make the top ten for their passenger challenges. These airports, including Vienna International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Madrid-Barajas Airport, and Harry Reid International Airport, continue to create significant travel headaches despite their global importance.
Vienna International Airport, with a delay rate of 42.4%, struggles with both delays and lost baggage, which significantly impacts its reputation. Serving over 30 million passengers annually, this Austrian hub has a passenger density of 3.17 million per square kilometre. While it’s a key European airport, its inefficiencies in handling large crowds and its increasing struggle with timely departures and baggage retrieval create a less-than-ideal experience for travelers. With nearly 400 lost luggage searches each year, passengers should be prepared for long waits and potential disruptions.
In the United States, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (often referred to as Sea-Tac) ranks for its operational issues, with a delay rate of 20.98%. This airport, which serves around 50 million passengers annually, has a 5.20 million passenger density per square kilometre, contributing to overcrowded terminals and longer lines. Despite being one of the major transportation hubs on the West Coast, travelers often face the frustration of delays and crowded spaces. With 2.80K lost luggage searches annually, Sea-Tac’s baggage handling issues add to the overall inconvenience for its passengers.
Madrid-Barajas Airport in Spain, with a delay rate of 44.4%, is another airport in Europe that’s problematic for travelers. It serves over 50 million passengers each year, but with a passenger density of 2.17 million per square kilometre, overcrowding is common. Passengers here also face difficulties with lost baggage, as evidenced by the 1.21K annual searches for missing items. The airport’s operational challenges, combined with the high number of travelers, create a stressful experience for anyone flying in or out of Madrid.
Lastly, Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas rounds out the top ten with a delay rate of 21.59%. Although not as severely delayed as some of the other airports, Harry Reid still faces issues of overcrowding, with 5.16 million passengers per square kilometre. With 1.40K lost luggage searches annually, this airport’s baggage problems add to its frustration level. Given the high volume of tourists visiting Las Vegas, it’s no surprise that the airport has difficulty keeping up with the influx, making it a less-than-ideal choice for travelers seeking efficiency and speed.
Together, these airports reflect a growing trend in global air travel: increasing passenger numbers combined with aging infrastructures and inadequate operational capacity, leading to a frustrating travel experience for many. The data suggests that unless major upgrades and reforms are made, these terminals will continue to be sources of stress for travelers.
The world’s worst airports have one thing in common: they can’t handle the growing volume of passengers. With global travel numbers skyrocketing over the past two decades, many airports simply weren’t designed to accommodate such high traffic. Heathrow, Gatwick, and Charles de Gaulle in Europe, Hartsfield-Jackson in the USA, and Stansted in the UK are just a few examples of major terminals that are failing to keep up. Passengers are being squeezed into overcrowded spaces, forced to endure flight delays, and constantly searching for lost luggage. As travel continues to grow, it’s clear that many airports need to drastically improve their operations to avoid further frustration.
Traveling in 2026 is shaping up to be a challenging experience for those passing through major international hubs like London Stansted, Atlanta, and Paris Charles de Gaulle. With chronic delays, overcrowded terminals, and the constant struggle to recover lost luggage, these airports are becoming more of a nightmare for travelers. If you have the choice, consider flying through lesser-known airports that are better equipped to handle the increasing number of travelers. The world’s busiest terminals need major reforms to avoid becoming a frustrating part of the travel experience. As travel continues to increase globally, these airports are feeling the strain. From Newark Liberty in the USA to London Stansted in the UK and Charles de Gaulle in Paris, passengers are experiencing delays, overcrowding, and lost luggage on a regular basis. The 2026 rankings show that many airports need to drastically improve their operations to handle the growing number of travelers. If you’re flying through one of these airports, be prepared for a frustrating experience. The key takeaway from this new research by Sail Croatia is to plan ahead, check for delays, and always be patient, as these hubs continue to challenge passengers across the globe.
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