A new international study ranks Newark Liberty International Airport dead last among 50 major airports due to delays, poor check-in experience, and baggage issues
Here’s the rundown 👇
Read this especially if you’re flying through Newark soon, track airline industry rankings, or care about how travel stress is measured around the holidays.
📍 What Just Happened
A new study from Australian travel insurer iSelect has named Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey the most stressful airport in the world. The ranking was based on analysis of check-in times, departure delays, security lines, and baggage retrieval issues. Newark scored just 18.46 out of 100 in the study.
This comes as record-breaking holiday travel numbers are being recorded across the U.S., with 3.1 million travelers screened by TSA on the Sunday after Thanksgiving alone.
📋 Key Details
- Global Airport Ranking: Newark ranked lowest among 50 major airports worldwide
- Worst Check-In Score: The airport had the poorest check-in experience across all airports evaluated
- Poor Access: Ranked second worst for ease of getting to the airport
- Delays and Baggage Issues: Average departure delay was 21.4 minutes, and it ranked third worst for baggage retrieval
- Ongoing Construction: Newark is currently undergoing a $3.5 billion redevelopment, including a new AirTrain system to replace the outdated 1996 version
- Terminal Upgrades: Renovations aim to improve passenger experience and accommodate growth
Other Airports Ranked:
- 2nd: Humberto Delgado Airport (Lisbon, Portugal)
- 3rd: Manchester Airport (UK)
- 4th: JFK International (New York City)
- 5th: Chicago O’Hare International
🔍 Why This Matters
Newark is a major hub in the U.S. and a critical entry point for the Northeast corridor. Ranking at the bottom raises serious questions about airport management, funding, and traveler experience.
These rankings impact tourism, airline choices, and local reputation, especially during peak travel periods.
While upgrades are underway, travelers face ongoing delays, confusion, and congestion that can turn even short trips into stressful ordeals.
It reflects broader struggles in U.S. airport infrastructure and the challenge of modernizing aging facilities without disrupting service.
🧠 The Bottom Line
Despite major renovation efforts, Newark Liberty continues to frustrate travelers with delays, long waits, and baggage headaches. As international studies and satisfaction surveys stack up against it, pressure is mounting on airport authorities to speed up improvements. Until then, flyers should brace for stress, or pick a different airport if they can.