The 7 Worst European Airports for Security Queue Wait Times - October Edition
The worst European airports for security queue wait times from mid September to mid October 2023.
When it comes to air travel, one of the most common frustrations travellers face is the time spent waiting in security queues. Interestingly, wait times have been higher over the past four weeks than they were in July.
Based on recent data, here are the 7 European airports with the longest average security queue wait times:
1. Stuttgart
Average Wait Time: 10.43 minutes
Peak Time: 5:00 AM with a wait time of 28.57 minutes
Best Times to Travel: 6:00 AM, 7:00 AM, 8:00 PM
Worst Times to Travel: 4:00 AM, 5:00 AM, 9:00 AM
2. Hamburg
Average Wait Time: 10.05 minutes
Peak Time: 9:00 AM with a wait time of 21.57 minutes
Best Times to Travel: 6:00 AM, 3:00 PM, 8:00 PM
Worst Times to Travel: 4:00 AM, 5:00 AM, 9:00 AM
3. Berlin
Average Wait Time: 8.62 minutes
Peak Time: 9:00 AM with a wait time of 16.43 minutes
Best Times to Travel: 4:00 AM, 6:00 AM, 7:00 PM
Worst Times to Travel: 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM
4. Bologna
Average Wait Time: 8.05 minutes
Peak Time: 4:00 AM with a wait time of 14.14 minutes
Best Times to Travel: 6:00 AM, 7:00 AM, 8:00 PM
Worst Times to Travel: 4:00 AM, 5:00 AM, 9:00 AM
5. Frankfurt
Average Wait Time: 7.80 minutes
Peak Time: 10:00 AM with a wait time of 11.14 minutes
Best Times to Travel: 4:00 AM, 5:00 AM, 6:00 PM
Worst Times to Travel: 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM
6. Lyon
Average Wait Time: 6.78 minutes
Peak Time: 9:00 AM with a wait time of 9.00 minutes
Best Times to Travel: 4:00 AM, 7:00 AM, 8:00 PM
Worst Times to Travel: 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM
7. Amsterdam
Average Wait Time: 6.61 minutes
Peak Time: 10:00 AM with a wait time of 12.29 minutes
Best Times to Travel: 4:00 AM, 6:00 AM, 7:00 PM
Worst Times to Travel: 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM
Four of the seven worst airports in terms of wait times are in Germany. It seems that Germany is facing challenges in revitalising its aviation industry following the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from the German Aviation Association reveals that air travel to and from Germany is currently at 78% of its pre-COVID levels. This lags behind other European countries, which average a recovery rate of 94%. One contributing factor could be low-cost carriers, such as Ryanair, opting to bypass Germany because of its higher airport fees.
Finally, here are some useful tips from Qsensor that apply to all airports:
Avoid early morning flights: Contrary to popular belief, booking an early flight does not necessarily guarantee shorter queues. Qsensor consistently observes the highest wait times at most airports between 5 AM and 10 AM. It is advisable to avoid mornings whenever possible. The second highest peak, is typically during the late afternoons/early evenings - also worth avoiding if possible.
Pre-book security services: Take advantage of pre-booking security services offered by airports. This may include fast track options, which are usually available for a fee.
We will return with another edition next month. If you are interested in accessing live and historical TSA, CATSA, and worldwide airport security wait times, you can find them at https://qsensor.co/.
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The full list of airports we analysed:
Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh, Leeds, Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Stuttgart, Hamburg, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Madrid, Barcelona, Palma, Malaga, Alicante, Gran Canaria, Amsterdam, Zurich, Oslo, Stockholm, Goteborg, Copenhagen, Dublin, Rome, Bologna, Istanbul