Long queues at check-in, excessively painstaking security checks, delayed flight connections. These are some of the reasons that can turn air travel into a stressful experience. And this despite the fact that the aircraft represents the most comfortable and fastest means of transport to reach any destination. The research conducted by a car rental company at the airport focuses on this phenomenon.

The company "StressFreeCarRental.com" has drawn up a ranking of the most stressful European stopovers. It is the result of the opinions given by travelers who have used the rental car service. "Some airports in Europe can be more stressful than others, our 'Stressful Airport Index 2024' highlights which factors in some destinations are most critical", stressed CEO John Charnock.

The ranking of the most stressful airports is led by the "Charles-de-Gaulle" of Paris which scored 44 points out of 50. In joint second place are Amsterdam-Schiphol and London-Heathrow with 39 points. On the third step of the podium is "Leonardo da Vinci" of Rome-Fiumicino with 32 points. Followed by Athens (26), Madrid (24), Lisbon (23), Dublin (22), Berlin (21), Zagreb (13).

The list is the result of a combination of various factors: the number of passengers in transit, parking costs, the number of scheduled daily flights, the distance of the airport from the city centre. With over 67.4 million passengers welcomed in 2023, over 270 destinations, a parking cost that costs on average 100 Euros per week, the "Charles-de-Gaulle" airport is the most stressful in Europe.