Cork Airport Lands in Global Top 40 While Dublin Slips Down International Rankings

• A major new global airport ranking has delivered a boost for Irish travellers flying from Cork, with the airport securing a place among the world's best-performing airports on its debut appearance in the report.

June 9, 2026 – Cork Airport has been ranked the 39th best airport in the world, outperforming major international hubs including Paris, Amsterdam, Rome and New York.

The result comes from the 2026 AirHelp Score, one of the world's largest independent airport rankings, which evaluated 279 airports across 76 countries using data on punctuality, passenger experience and airport facilities.

Cork handles around 25,000 flights annually - a fraction of the traffic seen at larger European hubs - it achieved an overall score of 7.94 out of 10. Strong passenger ratings and reliable operations helped propel the airport into the global top 40 on its first appearance in the rankings.

Cork scored 8.5 for customer experience and 8.1 for on-time performance, making it one of Europe's strongest performers for travellers seeking a smooth and reliable journey.

The picture was markedly different for Dublin Airport. Ireland's busiest airport ranked 187th globally, falling 66 places compared with last year. Dublin received an overall score of 7.42, with its on-time performance score of 7.5 trailing behind Cork's.

The contrast highlights a wider trend identified in this year's rankings, with smaller airports increasingly outperforming larger hubs when it comes to reliability and passenger satisfaction.

The 2026 AirHelp Score is the largest edition of the report to date, covering 29 more airports than in 2025. Airports are assessed across three categories: on-time performance, service and facilities and comfort . Punctuality carries the greatest weighting, accounting for 60% of the overall score.

The Irish results reflect broader shifts in global aviation. Smaller airports continue to gain ground on major international hubs, while several of the world's best-known airports - including Dubai International, JFK and Chicago O'Hare - fell significantly in this year's rankings.

Globally, the top three airports were Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, Fortaleza Airport in Brazil and Cape Town International Airport in South Africa.

Tomasz Pawliszyn, CEO of AirHelp, said: "The airports at the top of this year's rankings are not always the ones passengers might expect. Size and reputation are no substitute for operational consistency, and the data makes that very clear. Airports that deliver reliable, on-time journeys and a positive passenger experience are the ones performing best."

AirHelp is encouraging travellers to check their eligibility using the AirHelp app, which allows passengers to quickly assess claims and manage the process without the usual administrative burden.

For more information on your passenger rights, or to check if you are eligible for compensation, visit AirHelp.co.uk or download the AirHelp app.

ENDS

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Methodology

The 2026 AirHelp Score covers 279 airports across 76 countries — the largest number ranked to date. Data was collected from 1 May 2025 to 30 April 2026. The score is weighted across on-time performance (60%), service (20%) and facilities and comfort (20%). This year’s report also includes supplementary delay and cancellation data, which provides context but does not factor into the score itself.