According to new research from AirAdvisor, Darwin International Airport in Australia tops the list, followed by Cardiff Airport in Wales, UK, and Tijuana International Airport in Mexico.

“Portugal is not on the list of the safest”, highlights the company that defends the rights of air passengers, indicating that Humberto Delgado Airport, in Lisbon, was in 31st place in this ranking.

According to Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor, Portuguese airports are neither the safest nor the riskiest, that is, they present a “moderate risk”, which means that “the country still needs to improve its infrastructure and security processes, especially at airports that handle high passenger flow, such as Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon”.

The AirAdvisor study took into account walking time to baggage claim areas, as well as a number of other factors, such as passenger volume, online searches for lost luggage and user reviews on platforms such as Google and Yelp.

In total, 53 airports were assessed around the world and those that “have well-located baggage claim areas, fast processes and an efficient security infrastructure were highlighted as the safest,” explains AirAdvisor.

Darwin International Airport (Australia), Cardiff Airport (Wales, United Kingdom), Tijuana International Airport (Mexico), Belfast International Airport (Northern Ireland), Adelaide International Airport (Australia), Perth International Airport (Australia), Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (France), Guadalajara International Airport (Mexico), Glasgow International Airport (Scotland) and Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (Canada), are the infrastructures included in the Top10 of this ranking.

Anton Radchenko also explains that this ranking aims to inform passengers about the airports with the lowest risk of incidents, especially because there is a “growing increase in cases of theft and lost luggage”, which tend to increase “as air travel increases with the arrival of summer”.

AirAdvisor also advises that if luggage is lost, damaged or delayed during a trip, the passenger may be entitled to compensation of up to €1,300, as stipulated by EU Regulation 889/2002.

In addition to compensation for delayed baggage delivery, if the bag does not arrive at its destination on time, the passenger may request reimbursement of any additional expenses incurred while waiting for delivery.

The air passenger rights advocacy firm warns, however, that passengers must “act quickly,” as “the timeframe to file a complaint can vary from 7 to 21 days, depending on the situation.”

“It is essential to keep all flight receipts, as well as receipts for necessary expenses, to ensure that the airline can reimburse you,” adds the CEO of AirAdvisor.

Airadvisor has an online tool that allows passengers to understand whether they are entitled to compensation, which can be accessed here.