One airport in the UK has been crowned its best – with its distinguishing feature being short delays.
Exeter airport’s delays average just 14 minutes when it has them, even as it handles over one million passengers every year. Staff were particularly praised in customer reviews, with one saying they “make the place”.
But at the other end of the scale, Manchester airport was labelled the “worst”, according to travel guide A-Z Animals’ analysis.
The northwest airport has far more passengers heading through its two runways, but struggled to impress with its quality of service and the severity of delays.
Exeter Airport doesn’t have a huge range of spots to eat and shop at, but what is there is of good quality. The Coastline Cafe offers various breakfast options and later more classic pub food, while Moorland Kitchen offers all-day brunch. There is also an Executive Lounge to relax in for just £20 a head, and of course a WHSmith.
Reviewers of the airport on SkyTrax were glowing about the staff, describing them as “on the ball, very polite and thorough”, with others saying there was a “relaxed atmosphere and very friendly staff”.
One wrote: “All four members of staff at security were great. Helpful, friendly and professional. Lovely atmosphere. At the café a lovely women served me. Smile on her face.
“The shop and café are small. I’m not here to shop or sit drinking. I’m here to have an ideally stress free start to my holiday. The staff make this place.”
However, reviewers were far less reasonable when it came to Manchester Airport. A-Z Animals said of Manchester Airport: “Security lines, poor design, construction, lack of staff, and overcrowding were the culprits in making it the worst airport in the UK. Hopefully, the construction will help ease the problems.”
Reviewers on SkyTrax, however, did not mince their words. “It’s a disgrace to the UK” complained one, and “Appallingly depressing” said another.
One wrote: “A shocking airport which I will not be using again. Car parks are miles away. Buses are irregular. I have never walked so far at an airport in my life.”
However, opinions seem to be divided as another ranking, by payingtoomuch.com, ranks Manchester as the best, scoring it particularly highly in its accessibility.
They scored the aiport a 10/10 for accessibility, as well as 6.8/10 for lounges and relaxation. More positive reviews on SkyTrax acclaimed its speed at dealing with high volumes of passengers, with one describing it as “quick and efficient”.
The airport flies more passengers than anyone outside of London to over 200 destinations.
A Manchester Airport spokesperson said: “As part of our commitment to delivering great customer service, we continually survey passengers. In July and August this year – our peak months, during which we served millions of people – 93 percent of those passengers rated their overall satisfaction with the service they received as good, very good or excellent.”
They added: “Since April this year, we have welcomed more than 10.4million people through Manchester Airport, who have travelled to more than 180 destinations with nearly 50 different airlines – and 95.65 percent of them have got through security in under 15 minutes. Almost three quarters got through security in under five minutes and 99.8 percent in under 30 minutes.”
