Halton Stairlifts: The World’s Most Accessible Airports Ranked

The team at Halton Stairlifts has analysed more than 50,000 passenger reviews across Google and TripAdvisor to reveal which airports are getting accessibility right – and which ones are still falling short

The review-based ranking focuses on real passenger experiences with airport mobility services, navigability, staff support, and general comfort for travellers with disabilities or reduced mobility.

Methodology

Between February and March 2025, Halton Stairlifts conducted a large-scale data project, scraping 50,124 verified reviews from Google Reviews and TripAdvisor across 100 international airports.

Each review was analysed using a combination of:

• Keyword sentiment scoring – focusing on phrases like “wheelchair assistance,” “disabled access,” “long wait,” “mobility support,” and “accessible toilets”
• Manual tagging – to account for sarcasm, local slang, and emotional context
• Volume consistency – airports with consistently positive mentions over several months scored higher than those with a mix of praise and complaints

Each airport received a final Accessibility Score out of 100, combining both data insights and qualitative review content.

Accessibility Airport Rankings – Top and Bottom 10 – by Halton Stairlifts

Top 10 Airports for Accessibility

Least Accessible Airports (Bottom 5)

Accessibility Tips from Reviewers

• Bring printed instructions: Many passengers noted that signage can vary widely – having your own instructions (especially for transfers) helps.
• Use the special assistance lanes: Even seasoned travellers forget that airports like Zurich and Amsterdam offer priority lanes for PRM (Persons with Reduced Mobility) that aren’t always clearly advertised.
• Avoid layovers at older terminals: Travellers noted that accessibility can drop sharply when changing terminals, especially in places like JFK or Heathrow.
• Call ahead: Reviewers praised airports that allowed assistance bookings in advance – this improved experience drastically.

Neil McKenzie, Accessibility Specialist at Halton Stairlifts said, “This research highlights how accessibility is experienced, not just promised. It’s not enough for airports to have facilities on paper – they need to deliver them reliably, day after day. This study puts the passenger experience first, and that’s where the truth lies.

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