The 7 Absolute Worst Airports in the World
Do Yourself a Favor and Avoid These Airports
Flying is an inevitable form of transportation for travelers around the world — you can’t avoid it if you want to go somewhere interesting!
While you might be excited about your destination and ready for a fun and memorable experience, you have to get there first. And the process of getting there is sometimes not very much fun, and only memorable if something goes particularly wrong.
Some airports are a breeze, full of thoughtful comforts and helpful staff. Others not only don’t have any of those things, they seem to tend in the opposite direction — not having comforts is one thing, but cleanliness, some form of organization and at least an illusion that the airport cares whether you get on your flight are must-haves that these airports lack.
Let’s hope your next holiday doesn’t take you through one of these airports. If it does, at least make sure you take advantage of these tips for flying to make your experience a little more bearable.
Personally, I hate flying as it is, but having to suffer through a terrible airport? That’s just cruel and unusual punishment! An annual survey conducted by sleepinginairports.net, as well as input from other reports, found that these were the seven worst airports in the world.
7. Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport, Afghanistan (KBL)
The first airport on our list has a bit of an excuse for being there. Despite the major cleanliness issues and staff who lack basic customer service skills (like being friendly and helpful) at the airport, we can’t really beat this airport up too much, due to the conditions in the country as it is.
6. Port au Prince Toussaint Louverture International Airport, Haiti (PAP)
The staff have been known to be untrustworthy at this airport, so be aware when handing over your baggage. The immense heat that engulfs you here, the lack of seating areas and the unsanitary conditions land this airport, unfortunately, on this list.
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5. Caracas Simón Bolívar International Airport, Venezuela (CCS)
This airport has been described as unsanitary, lacking comforts and being, at times, chaotic. Is it really worthwhile making a complaint if the terrible service is standard?
If you ever have a layover, it’s a pretty standard practice to catch some zzz’s on the floor, but due to the deplorable conditions at this airport, you’ll quickly change your mind.
Hey, at least there’s free WiFi…
4. Tashkent International Airport, Uzbekistan (TAS)
This major Central Asian airport isn’t all bad, with no complaints about cleanliness, at least. But maybe that’s just because you don’t have time to look around when you are constantly vying for your spot in line!
The downfall of this airport is the lack of organization, allowing crowds of people to run amok. The lines seem unending, and people will quite confidently push through crowds to get to the front.
You literally have to fight through the lines just to catch your flight.
3. Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal (KTM)
While most airports on this list are in deplorable conditions due to bad staff, hygiene and other inconveniences, this airport at least has a more valid excuse for its rank at number three. The Kathmandu Airport wasn’t pristine before, but due to the tragic earthquake that rocked the country in 2015, the airport simply hasn’t been fully put back together again.
Feeling anxious about your upcoming flight? These tips for flying cover every stage of the process, from packing to security to on-board the plane.
2. Kuwait International Airport, Kuwait (KWI)
From rude staff to disorganized security, this airport has received hundreds of poor reviews from horrified travelers. The bathrooms are said to lack cleanliness, power outlets are non-functional, it’s constantly crowded with people, and worst of all there’s no WiFi.
1. Port Harcourt International Airport, Nigeria (PHC)
Not only is this is the worst airport in Africa, it’s the worst in the entire world. To take it a step further, the Port Harcourt Airport has been allotted the “prestigious” number one spot by various surveys.
The combination of an air-conditioner that’s nonworking, less than helpful staff members and the terrible lack of seating for its exhausted passengers are just a few of the reasons we find this Nigerian airport in our top spot.
Have you had the unfortunate luck to stumble into one of these airports?
