Missed Your Connection? These Airports Pose the Highest Risk for Transfers

• AirHelp analyzes the risk of missed connecting flights at international and domestic airports.

• Bergamo, Dallas and Frankfurt rank worst among the 196 airports analyzed.

• Nuremberg, Hamburg and Berlin are among Germany’s most reliable airports for transfers.

Berlin, May 27, 2026 – Travel-tech company AirHelp has analyzed which airports pose the greatest risk for travelers missing their connecting flights. To do so, internal data on missed flight connections was analyzed at each airport to create a score between one and ten. The lower the score, the higher the risk of missing a connection. The result: Italy’s Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport recorded the highest risk with a score of 4. At the other end of the ranking, Brazil’s Florianópolis International Airport achieved the highest score of 9, making it the airport with the best chances for a smooth transfer.

These Airports Are Especially Risky for Connecting Flights

Travelers at Dallas Fort Worth Airport face a similarly high risk as those in Bergamo. The Texas airport received a score of 4.03, closely followed by Frankfurt Airport (4.05) and São Paulo/Guarulhos Airport (4.08). Well-known hubs such as Madrid-Barajas (4.23), London Stansted (4.31), Paris Charles de Gaulle (4.36) and Amsterdam Schiphol (4.38) also performed poorly in comparison, ranking 10th, 13th, 15th and 16th in the negative ranking.

Meanwhile, Brazil’s Hercílio Luz International Airport achieved the best score in the ranking with 9 points, narrowly ahead of Tallinn Airport (8.97) and Santa Genoveva Airport (8.95). Travelers there are therefore the least likely to miss their connecting flights.

Nuremberg Leads Germany in Best Chances for Connections

Within Germany, the airports of Nuremberg (8.69), Hamburg (8.1) and Berlin (8.1) achieved the best scores for reliable transfers. They are followed by Düsseldorf with 6.08 points, Stuttgart (5.9) and Cologne/Bonn (5.15). By contrast, Frankfurt Airport (4.05) and Munich Airport (4.33) carry a significantly higher risk of passengers missing their connecting flights. Internationally, they rank 3rd and 14th in the negative ranking and also occupy the top two spots within Germany.

Connection Time Is a Key Factor in Missed Flights

“One of the most important factors in whether travelers miss their connecting flight is the available transfer time,” says Tomasz Pawliszyn. “The more time passengers have between arrival and departure, the lower the risk of missing their next flight. Recommended connection times generally range between 30 and 60 minutes for domestic transfers, 60 to 90 minutes for transfers between domestic and international flights, and up to 120 minutes for international connections.”

Among the German airports included in the analysis, travelers at Nuremberg Airport need to allow the most time for transfers. Depending on the route, recommended connection times range from 45 minutes for domestic flights to 120 minutes for international connections. Frankfurt and Munich also require comparatively long transfer times, with recommendations between 45 and 90 minutes. At Hamburg Airport, recommended transfer times range from 45 to 60 minutes, while Berlin requires between 40 and 85 minutes. At Cologne/Bonn, Stuttgart and Düsseldorf, transfer times between 35 and 85 minutes are generally considered sufficient.

Passengers’ rights in case of missed connecting flights

If passengers miss a connecting flight due to a delay, airlines are required under EU passenger rights regulation EC261 to arrange alternative transportation to the final destination. If the journey must be continued the following day, travelers are also entitled to care services such as hotel accommodation, meals, and transport between the airport and the hotel. Under certain conditions, passengers may additionally be entitled to compensation of up to €600, for example if they arrive at their final destination more than three hours late. However, no compensation is payable if extraordinary circumstances caused the missed connection.

About the Analysis

The analysis examined flight connections from 2025 that were part of itineraries involving connecting flights. Flights within the EU, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Brazil were included. The study was based on internal data from passengers who submitted claims to AirHelp due to missed connecting flights. To calculate the score, the share of missed connections among all analyzed connecting flights at a given airport was determined and then converted into a score between one and ten. The lower the score, the higher the risk of missing a connection. The analysis also analyzed recommended transfer times at airports. These figures were sourced from the Minimum Connection Times (MCT) database and not directly from the airports themselves.

About AirHelp

AirHelp is a travel technology company that deals with flight disruptions. Since 2013, AirHelp has secured compensation for over three million passengers who have experienced flight delays or cancellations. Over 12 million passengers have protected their flights with AirHelp+, and countless millions more benefit from the information freely available at airhelp.com.

#The number one for flight compensation worldwide

With a network of 50 law firms in over 35 countries, innovative artificial intelligence in the background, and a dedicated team of over 400 AirHelpers, AirHelp makes it easy for every traveler in the EU, the UK, and beyond to get up to $600 for flight delays and cancellations. For more information about AirHelp, visit: https://www.airhelp.com.

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