AirHelp launched a list ranking the world’s airports, where Portugal’s Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) is found among the worst, in the 274th position. The rank shows that some Portuguese airports are at opposite ends of the spectrum.
About Lisbon Airport
Although poorly ranked, LIS is one of Europe’s and the world’s busiest airports, appearing in the 13th position regarding passenger volume, seeing over 36 million travellers throughout the year. Concerning cargo volume, Humberto Delgado carries around 200,000 tonnes of it on a yearly basis, establishing itself as having a large cargo capacity.
Lisbon Airport is TAP Air Portugal’s main hub, which also includes the carrier’s subsidiary TAP Express. Additionally, two major low-cost airlines also use the airport as a hub, Ryanair and easyJet, which link Europe, the Middle East and Africa with the country’s capital.
The airport is set to be shut down by 2037, when it is scheduled for the new Lisbon Luís de Camões Airport to be functioning at its full capacity.
The Ranking
The Portuguese capital’s airport has been an object of scrutiny for several years, with many complaining about its long passport queues and constant delays.
Despite Lisbon Airport being among the world’s worst, other Portuguese airports were ranked higher on the list. For instance, even though it fell seven positions in contrast to 2025, Faro Airport (FAO) remains the best within Portugal, ranking 125th.
Not that much further from Lisbon is Madeira’s Airport. The Cristiano Ronaldo Airport (FNC) is ranked 262nd, whereas in 2025, it was ranked 201st, marking a significant decline. On the other hand, Porto (OPO) has gained positions, rising from 205th in 2025 to 192nd in 2026.
Do you agree with Lisbon Airport’s position in the list? Which one do you consider to be the world’s worst? Let us know your comments down below.
