Following recent technical problems with the radio frequencies of the Greek FIR, which caused a temporary freeze of arrivals and departures at Greek airports, a new international study by iSelect sheds light on European airports that cause the most stress for travelers due to delays and cancellations. In this ranking, Athens International Airport occupies 17th place in Europe, with an average departure delay of 20.86 minutes, but a particularly low cancellation rate of 0.26%.
The analysis was based on departure data, cancellation rates, and average delay times, creating an overall stress index for passengers. The most stressful airport in Europe is Lisbon Airport, with an average delay exceeding 27 minutes, followed by major international hubs such as Manchester, Charles de Gaulle in Paris, and Heathrow in London confirming that even the largest hubs face significant operational pressures.
In total, 23 European airports with high passenger volumes and international connections were examined. The overall picture shows that delays remain a structural issue for the aviation industry, despite investments in technology, infrastructure, and traffic management.
iSelect also extends its evaluation globally, where airports in the U.S. and Asia show even longer delays and higher cancellation rates. Thus, while Athens ranks 17th in Europe, it ranks lower internationally, indicating that it remains a relatively reliable aviation hub.
The findings of the study gain additional significance in light of recent developments in Greek airspace, highlighting how vulnerable the air transport network is to technical problems and how strongly the traveler experience can be affected even by short-term disruptions. In an environment of increasing demand, operational reliability remains a decisive factor for competitiveness for European airports including Athens International Airport.
