Madrid Barajas is Europe’s most passenger friendly capital city airport

According to booking platform Omio, Madrid Barajas is Europe’s most “passenger friendly” capital city airport based on a study of 30 gateways across the continent.

The study ranked Madrid Barajas (MAD) top for its level of comfort and passenger-friendliness after assessing each individual airport’s facilities that included shops, restaurants and other F&B outlets.

Omio states that passengers travelling through Madrid have 133 shops and 54 restaurants to choose from while “few flight cancellations and above average flight punctuality make Barajas the most customer-friendly airport in Europe”.

London Heathrow (LHR) ranks seventh place overall, but first place for facilities, with 20 lounges across the terminals.

The main airports in Rome (FCO), Amsterdam (AMS), Copenhagen (CPH) and Moscow (SVO) also score high.

Copenhagen (COP), says Omio, is the best in terms of connectivity, with three different public transportation options covering the five-mile distance between the city’s central train station and the airport.

The Danish gateway is also said to be the best in terms of punctuality, with 96% of flights landing and taking off on schedule.

Elsewhere, Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport is lauded for having best in terms of culinary options, which are said to include 79 gastronomic facilities.

According to the ranking, London Heathrow has the best best facilities in Europe, making the travel experience most comfortable for passengers, but below average ground connectivity compared to other European cities, with only two public transportation options covering the significant twenty four-kilometre distance between London Victoria and Heathrow Airport.

The survey adds that although Heathrow has 20 private lounges and three hotels, it also ranks poorly in terms of stress generating factors, noting that taxis are the most expensive, flight punctuality is below average, and in normal times it is busy, handling over 241,000 passengers daily.

Omio notes that the connectivity of each airport was determined by identifying the distance from the airport to the city centre and the number of public transport options available to get there.

It adds that the facilities examined included showers, rest and relaxation areas, charging stations, and airport lounges, as well as entertainment options, such as the number of shops, bars, and restaurants and children’s play areas.

Stress generating factors, such as flight delays or number of daily passengers were also included in the study.

“Even though the most far-flung destinations can be reached within a few hours, air travel can still be exceptionally stressful,” says Omio’s commercial director, Julian Persaud.

“By sharing our findings on the most customer-friendly airports in Europe, we aim to help passengers travel comfortably and stress-free. After all, anyone who has ever travelled long distance, with long layovers, will know that a passenger-friendly terminal can make all the difference to a travel experience.”

Visit www.omio.com/airports to find out more about the study and its methodology.