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This summer is bound to be incredibly busy. Air traffic is finally back on track, and more people than ever are taking to the skies to explore the world.
Some airports are coping well with the summer traffic surge, while others are floundering.
This is particularly true in Europe, where a combination of air traffic control strikes, baggage handler strikes, and even pilot strikes has led to increased delays.
But, which are the airports in Europe that struggle the most? Which airports should you avoid and where can you fly instead?
According new research by Air Help, These are the 5 airports in Europe that experience the most delays and cancellations:
London Gatwick (LGW)
It was found that 54.08% of the flights from London Gatwick were delayed or cancelled. This makes Gatwick the airport most likely to experience delays and cancellations in Europe.
London is set to become the most popular international vacation destination for American travelers this summer. But its airports don’t always have the best reputation.
In addition to the delays and cancellations at Gatwick, Heathrow Airport has experienced a major strike this year.
But the good news is that, along with New York, London is the city with the most commercial airports in the world.
While the airport you use is often determined by price or flight times from your departure airport, sometimes you will have a choice between London airports.
So if you’re worried about flying into Gatwick or Heathrow, you might consider looking into flights to London City, London Stansted, London Luton or London Southend airports.
Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS)
51.04% of the flights from Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport were delayed or cancelled.
Lisbon only has one airport, so travelers have no choice but to use it if they want to explore the beautiful city of Lisbon.
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Lisbon is the main international and domestic airport for all of Portugal and handles 14 million passengers per year.
With Portugal repeatedly topping the charts as the best and most affordable holiday destination this summer, it’s understandable that airport football is so high that it’s causing disruption.
Copenhagen Kastrup Airport (CPH)
50.88% of flights from Copenhagen Kastrup Airport were delayed or cancelled. This is the largest airport in Denmark.
There is another airport in Copenhagen, but it is much smaller and does not handle commercial flights.
This means that if you want to fly to Copenhagen, then you have no choice but to fly into Copenhagen Kastrup Airport.
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
50.60% of flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport were delayed or cancelled.
Charles de Gaulle is the largest airport in France and the second busiest in Europe. The single busiest European airport is London’s Heathrow.
If you’re taking a transatlantic flight to Paris, then chances are you’ll have no choice but to fly to Charles de Gaulle.
But Charles de Gaulle is not the only airport in Paris. Paris-Orly is the second of two Paris airports and although it is smaller, you can fly into Orly from most European countries.
Orly is only 10 km south of Paris, while Charles de Gaulle is 20 km north of Paris. That means it’s easier and faster to travel to Paris from Orly than from Charles de Gaulle.
If you have a choice of airports and avoiding delays or cancellations is a priority, Orly is likely a better choice.
Antalya Airport (AYT)
Finally, 47.34% of the flights from Antalya airport were delayed or cancelled.
If you have planned a trip specifically to the Antalya coast, you have no choice but to use this airport and hope that your flight is not one of those that gets delayed or cancelled.
But if you are planning a trip to Turkey, why not consider flying to Istanbul?
Istanbul was listed as one of the most reliable European airports with the fewest delays and cancellations. Only 32.15% of flights from Istanbul Havalimani Airport (IST) were disrupted.
Some of the best ways to avoid falling victim to flight cancellations include:
- Reservation of the first flight of the day. If a flight is cancelled, this may affect other flights from the same airport. The sooner your flight, the less likely you’ll have to worry about these side effects.
- Travel on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Statistically, weekend flights are more likely to be cancelled, while flights departing on a Tuesday or Wednesday are the least likely to be cancelled.
- Fly direct. Direct flights can be more expensive, but if you’re more concerned with convenience than budget, flying direct will greatly minimize the risk of a flight delay or cancellation.
traveler alert: Don’t forget travel insurance for your next trip!
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
