The air route between Amsterdam Schiphol and Barcelona El Prat has been named Europe’s most stressful connection for passengers who are afraid of flying, according to an analysis by AirAdvisor.
The study examined 26 European flight routes and assessed factors including delays, cancellations, adverse weather conditions and journey duration. It focused on the predictability of air travel rather than flight safety.
The Amsterdam-Barcelona route received a score of 75.1 out of 100, placing it at the top of the ranking. Between September 2025 and August 2026, 7.02% of flights on the route were delayed by more than one hour, while 0.83% experienced delays of more than three hours. Another 2.93% of scheduled flights were cancelled.
Passengers using Amsterdam Schiphol may also face weather conditions that can add to travel uncertainty, according to the analysis.
AirAdvisor chief executive Anton Radchenko said several factors could contribute to anxiety among people who already feel nervous about flying.
“Fear of flying rarely depends on a single factor,” Radchenko said in a statement. He added that long waits at boarding gates, unexpected cancellations and difficult weather conditions could increase passengers’ anxiety.
The second most stressful route in the study was the connection between London Heathrow and Amsterdam Schiphol, which scored 63.8 points. The route recorded the highest cancellation rate among those analysed, at 3.69%.
The two airports involved are among the busiest in Europe and handle large numbers of international passengers, meaning disruptions can affect substantial numbers of travellers.
The Madrid Barajas-London Heathrow route ranked 10th, scoring 40.8 points. The analysis found that 3.38% of flights on the connection were delayed by more than one hour, while 0.17% experienced delays exceeding three hours. Cancellations accounted for 1.15% of flights.
Several other routes involving Spanish airports also featured in the ranking. The Barcelona El Prat-Rome Fiumicino connection was placed seventh with a score of 45.2 points. Barcelona El Prat-Palma de Mallorca ranked 13th.
The Barcelona-Palma route recorded delays on 6.89% of flights, making delays one of its most notable sources of disruption.
AirAdvisor said its index combines cancellation rates, delays, weather conditions and flight duration to assess how predictable a journey is. The findings are intended to provide information that may help nervous passengers understand potential disruptions and prepare for their trips.
