European airports and airlines, including those in Germany, struggle to compete for top spots,, according to recent rankings.
In the world of aviation, Düsseldorf Airport stands out as the best German airport, ranking 100th globally with an overall score of 7.64/10. The airport, located in North Rhine-Westphalia, excels in customer satisfaction, scoring 8.1, and punctuality, with a score of 7.4 [1].
Other major German airports fall behind Düsseldorf. Berlin Brandenburg ranks 136th, Munich comes in at 144th, Hamburg lands at 153rd, Frankfurt scores 163rd, and Nuremberg ranks 182nd. These airports scored between 7.28 and 7.51 overall [1].
When it comes to airlines, Lufthansa, one of Germany's most prominent carriers, ranks 14th globally by departures within Germany. However, the airline has shown a downward trend in flight volumes [3]. No recent detailed rankings or customer satisfaction data for German airlines specifically were found.
Interestingly, four German airlines were named among the worst in Europe in 2025 by a separate rating [5]. Among these, Discover Airlines, a subsidiary of Lufthansa, received the best overall score. TUIfly followed Discover Airlines in customer satisfaction among the German airlines. However, Discover Airlines received the worst score for customer satisfaction among the German airlines.
It's worth noting that TUIfly tied for the 7th worst position with a reliability score of 3.0 (out of five) [5]. Lufthansa was marked down for its "payment behaviour", earning a score of 3.0 out of five, ranked 3rd worst in this category [5].
The series of worker strikes at the beginning of the year affected hundreds of flights at Munich and Düsseldorf airports. Despite this, Munich and Nuremberg scored as well as Duesseldorf in customer satisfaction, but landed further down in the ranking primarily for lower scores in on-time performance [5].
Flightright, a customer flight portal, ranked "the worst airline in 2025" [5]. The ranking was based on scores for airlines' reliability, compensation policies, and customer satisfaction. Duesseldorf Airport, a major German airport, was ranked 100th out of 250 airports worldwide in a survey by AirHelp. The airport's AirHelp score, based on on-time performance, customer satisfaction, and food and shops, was the same as that given to Belfast Airport in the UK, and the Toulouse-Blagnac and Lyon Saint-Exupery Airports in France [1].
In summary, Düsseldorf Airport leads German airports in terms of customer satisfaction and punctuality. Lufthansa is prominent in flight volume but may face challenges. Some German airlines rank poorly in European customer satisfaction assessments, with Discover Airlines and TUIfly being among the worst. The rankings reflect a mix of factors including punctuality, customer satisfaction, and amenities.
- Despite Düsseldorf Airport's success in the aviation sector, a shift in interest might be appreciated, as one could envision a lifestyle that incorporates travel and sports, rather than focusing merely on AirHelp scores and on-time performances.
- On a different note, it's intriguing to consider how a German airline like TUIfly, known for its lower scores in reliability and customer satisfaction, could potentially sponsor a sports team, providing an opportunity for fans to embrace their love for travel while cheering for their favorite sports.
