Airport

The Best and Worst Airlines and Airports of 2019

Today AirHelp, the world’s largest organization for air passenger rights, is announcing the results of its annual AirHelp Score which rates global airlines and airports. First launched in 2015, AirHelp Score is the most comprehensive data-based evaluation of airlines and airports, rating them on service quality, on-time performance, claim processing and food and shops – taking into account flight and after-flight services.

To create this ranking, AirHelp has used top data sources, including its database of flight statistics, which is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world, tens of thousands of customer opinions and its own experience in helping 10 million passengers around the world process compensation following flight disruption.

THE BEST AND WORST AIRLINES 2019

Best

1. Qatar Airways

2. American Airlines

3. Aeromexico

4. SAS Scandinavian Airlines

5. Qantas

6. LATAM Airlines

7. WestJet

8. Luxair

9. Austrian Airlines

10. Emirates

Worst airlines for 2019

63. Adria Airways

64. Aerolineas Argentinas

65. Transavia

66. Laudamotion

67. Norwegian

68. Ryanair

69. Korean Air

70. Kuwait Airways

71. EasyJet

72. Thomas Cook

It ranked 72 airlines and 132 airports from 40,000 reviews based on on-time performance and quality of service, as well as food and drink options and how easy it is to claim a refund.

BEST AND WORST AIRPORTS FOR 2019

Best

1. Hamad International Airport, Qatar

2. Tokyo International Airport, Japan

3. Athens International , Greece

4. Afonso Pena International Airport, Brazil

5. Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport, Poland

6. Moscow Sheremetyevo International, Russia

7. Singapore Changi Airport,

8. Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International, India

9. Tenerife North Airport, Spain

10. Campinas International , Brazil

Worst airports

123. London Gatwick Airport, UK

124. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, Canada

125. Porto Airport, Portugal

126. Paris Orly Airport, France

127. Manchester Airport, UK

128. Malta International Airport, Malta

129. Henri Coandă International Airport, Bucharest, Romania

130. Eindhoven Airport, Netherlands

131. Kuwait International Airport, Kuwait

132. Lisbon Portela Airport, Portugal

How the airlines and airports are rated

The 2019 AirHelp Score marks the company’s eighth report since it began evaluations in 2015. AirHelp developed this report to combine expert knowledge and industry expertise to give air passengers better predictions for what their experiences will look like at different airports, how the airlines will treat them under normal circumstances, and what to expect if their flight gets delayed, canceled or overbooked. To determine the airline rankings, AirHelp rates airlines equally on three areas, including claims processing, on-time performance, and quality of service. Airports’ scores are determined by on-time performance, which accounts for 60% of the score, and then quality of service, which is 20% of the score, and food and shopping options which makes up the remaining 20% of the score. To view AirHelp Score in full, please visit AirHelp.com/AirHelpScore.

Airport

Western Sydney Airport Welcomes Its First Plane After 6 Years of construction

In a historic milestone for Australia’s aviation sector, the first plane has officially taken off and landed at Western Sydney Airport after six years of construction, much to the delight of a small but enthusiastic group of dedicated planespotters.

A test pilot made the inaugural landing using a Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche, successfully completing a series of take-off and landing runs on the newly built tarmac. This crucial test paves the way for larger passenger aircraft, which are expected to start using the runway in two years.

Virgin Atlantic Introduces Sign Language Crew Booking for Inclusive Flights

The Piper PA-30 was employed to assess the airport’s approximately 3,000 Aeronautical Ground Lights (AGLs) by executing operations in various conditions, including daylight, dusk, and evening. This testing ensures that the lighting system is fit for purpose and ready to welcome aircraft when the airport opens to commercial flights in late 2026.

The pilot also highlighted that the rapid exit taxiways have been designed at a 45-degree angle, allowing for quicker transitions on and off the runway. Once operational, the airport will feature a single runway capable of handling up to 10 million passengers annually right from day one.

Qatar Airways Launches new Flights From Doha To Toronto

As the construction phase nears completion, the airport’s main terminal, apron, and supporting infrastructure will be ready to accommodate around 81,000 flights each year. This milestone marks a significant moment for Western Sydney Airport, the first new airport to open in Australia since Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport more than two decades ago.

Major airlines, including Qantas and Jetstar, have already committed to operating from the 24/7 facility, signaling strong support for this new hub. By 2033, the airport aims to handle up to 10 million passengers and facilitate extensive air traffic movements annually.