The airport that’s been named the UK’s finest – not Heathrow or Metropolis

The airport obtained a five-star ranking throughout numerous classes together with workers, bogs, and queues for bag drop, airport safety and on the check-in desk.

Passengers waiting to collect baggage at Exeter Airport, Devon, UK.

The airport obtained a buyer rating of 80% (Picture: Getty)

2025 was the busiest yr for flights since 2019. At Heathrow Airport, the UK and Europe’s busiest airport, passenger numbers for the yr surpassed 84 million for the primary time ever. December alone set a brand new document, with virtually 7.2 million passengers travelling via the hub. With 2025 breaking earlier passenger data, it’s extremely potential that travellers encountered among the challenges that include bigger crowds at one level or one other throughout their journeys.

In line with the most recent survey from client watchdog Which?, the UK’s most pleasant airport expertise comes not from Heathrow, Gatwick, or London Metropolis, however from one of many smaller hubs. Topping the listing for 2025 is Exeter Airport, which achieved a buyer satisfaction rating of 80%.

Exterior of Exeter Airport Terminal Buildings

The airport presently serves 27 locations (Picture: Getty)

Which? surveyed almost 5,789 passengers in April 2025 who collectively took about about 7,975 airport journeys prior to now 12 months. The one-runway airport which serves fewer than half one million passengers yearly, obtained five-star scores for employees, bogs, and queues at check-in, bag drop, and airport safety.

In contrast to busier and larger airports, Exeter permits passengers to park shut, stroll straight to check-in, and attain the gate in below 5 minutes, Which? acknowledged.

The one areas the place it obtained decrease marks have been its vary of outlets and meals choices, and a better than common fee of last-minute cancellations at 3.1%, primarily resulting from flights serving the windy Channel Islands and Isles of Scilly.

Stephen Wiltshire, Managing Director of Exeter Airport, stated: “We’re thrilled to be recognised by Which? because the UK’s best-rated airport for buyer expertise. This achievement displays the dedication of our group, who constantly go the additional mile to make each journey via Exeter as seamless and pleasant as potential.

“Being rated so extremely by our passengers is particularly rewarding and underlines our dedication to delivering a high quality journey expertise whereas persevering with to develop and broaden our providers.

“It’s additionally vastly encouraging to see our sister airports Norwich and Bournemouth additionally ranked among the many UK’s high six, underlining the power of Regional & Metropolis Airports as a bunch and our shared dedication to glorious customer support.”

Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Journey stated: “Subsequent time you’re reserving a flight, it’s properly value contemplating not simply your alternative of airline but additionally your airport – it may make all of the distinction to the beginning of your getaway and perhaps even get that vacation feeling began somewhat sooner.”

The airport serves 27 locations together with day by day flights to Amsterdam with KLM which began in March 2025. Exeter Airport employs 230 individuals. It dealt with 450,112 passengers from April to October 2025, a 28% improve from the earlier yr, boosted by the brand new KLM flights to Amsterdam, TUI doubling its plane and routes, and the brand new Loganair Exeter–Manchester service that began on October 26.