UK Airports Ranking: Regional Airport Tops Best List, While UK's Largest Airports Struggle

UK Airports Ranked: Exeter Tops, Manchester Struggles

In a recent survey by consumer champion organisation Which?, Exeter Airport in Devon has been crowned the best UK airport, scoring an impressive overall customer score of 80%. The survey, which involved almost 6,000 passengers and rated airports based on customer reviews across 10 categories, saw Exeter Airport receive five-star ratings in five categories.

Exeter Airport's success is not a solitary victory for smaller airports. Following closely behind is Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which handles over 5 million passengers a year. London City Airport and several other regional airports, including Bournemouth, Newcastle, and Norwich, also find themselves in the top of the league table.

However, the survey paints a different picture for some of the UK's busier airports. Manchester Airport, specifically Terminal 3, received the lowest customer score of 43%, with only one star for queues. Plans for significant investment in Terminal 3 have been announced, starting this year, with plans to develop a 500-seat bar, shops, and a new dining hall.

Customer satisfaction at Manchester Airport has increased significantly over the past four years. Manchester Airport's Managing Director, Chris Woodroofe, stated that the airport serves 31 million people a year, connecting to over 200 destinations. Despite the improvements, Manchester Airport's Terminal 2, which underwent a historic £1.3bn transformation and received awards, scored lowly when it comes to customer service and lack of seating.

London's airports also face challenges, with London Luton Airport scoring the lowest among London's airports with a customer score of 51%. All other terminals at London Heathrow, as well as London Stansted and Gatwick North and South, scored lowly when it comes to customer service and lack of seating. London Heathrow Terminal 5 had the highest score among London's airports with a customer score of 59%.

The survey also revealed that Exeter Airport scored the lowest in the range and quality of shops and food outlets, receiving three stars. Smaller airports dominate the top of the league table, with Exeter Airport followed by Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

Three regional airports across the UK are also gearing up for new airlines and holiday destinations, promising improvements in the future. The full list of best to worst UK airports according to Which? has been provided, offering valuable insights for travellers planning their journeys.