Airports and airlines in Germany are often criticized for being among the least efficient in Europe.
In the year 2025, the performance of German airports and airlines presents a solid yet varied picture in terms of customer satisfaction, punctuality, and reliability.
Airport Performance
Düsseldorf Airport, a major hub in Germany, has emerged as the nation's top performer. According to AirHelp's 2025 survey, Düsseldorf ranked 100th worldwide, scoring an impressive 7.64 out of 10 overall. The airport excelled in customer satisfaction (8.1), punctuality (7.4), and food and retail options (7.8). This strong showing indicates a high level of customer satisfaction and operational reliability among Germany’s airports [1].
Berlin Brandenburg, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, and Nuremberg airports followed Düsseldorf with average scores. Berlin Brandenburg ranked 136th with 7.51, Munich 144th with 7.46, Hamburg 153rd (7.43), Frankfurt 163rd (7.38), and Nuremberg 182nd (7.28) overall [1]. Notably, Frankfurt, despite being Germany’s largest airport by departures, lags behind Düsseldorf in customer satisfaction and punctuality [1][3].
Airline Performance
Wizz Air, a low-cost carrier, demonstrated exceptional punctuality in 2025, maintaining a 100% on-time performance for consecutive months as per BGS ground operations management. This consistent reliability positively contributes to customer satisfaction [2].
Lufthansa, the largest German airline by departures, faces a decline in flight volumes but lacks specific data on its punctuality and customer satisfaction in 2025 [3].
Notable Challenges
Despite the overall positive performance, some challenges have affected German airports. A series of worker strikes at the beginning of the year led to hundreds of cancelled and delayed flights at Duesseldorf and Munich airports [4].
Survey Results
AirHelp's survey on customer satisfaction and punctuality placed Düsseldorf Airport alongside Belfast Airport in the UK, Toulouse-Blagnac and Lyon Saint-Exupery Airports in France [1]. However, four major German airlines - Lufthansa, TUIfly, Eurowings, and Discover Airlines - were included in a survey titled the "worst airlines of 2025" for their reliability, compensation policies, and customer satisfaction [5]. Lufthansa was marked down for its "payment behavior," while TUIfly tied for the 7th worst position with a reliability score of 3.0 out of five [5]. Discover Airlines, a subsidiary of Lufthansa, received the best overall score in the ranking but had the worst score for customer satisfaction among the German airlines [5].
In conclusion, while Germany's airport infrastructure and airlines maintain competitive standards of customer satisfaction and punctuality in 2025, there is a notable variation across different airports and airlines, with Düsseldorf and Wizz Air leading in quality and reliability indicators [1][2][3]. The challenges faced by some airports and airlines, such as strikes and payment issues, underscore the need for continuous improvement in the industry.
References: 1. AirHelp's 2025 Survey on Customer Satisfaction and Punctuality 2. BGS Ground Operations Management on Wizz Air's Punctuality 3. Flughafen Frankfurt am Main: Departures Data 4. Strikes Affect Duesseldorf and Munich Airports 5. "Worst Airlines of 2025" Survey Results
A traveler looking for a satisfying airport experience might find solace in Düsseldorf Airport, which offers a diverse range of food and retail options and ranks highly in terms of customer satisfaction. On the other hand, sports enthusiasts embarking on an exciting journey may choose to fly with Wizz Air, recognized for its exceptional punctuality throughout 2025.
