BHX vs STN — Birmingham or London?

Verdict

Birmingham Airport (BHX) scores higher overall at 7.2/10 versus London Stansted Airport (STN) at 6.9/10.

Score comparison

Metric	Birmingham Airport	London Stansted Airport
FlightLogic Score	7.2	6.9
On-Time Performance	7.0	6.7
Passenger Experience	7.1	6.8
Facilities & Comfort	7.5	7.0
Lounge Score	7.0	6.8
City	Birmingham	London
Country	United Kingdom	United Kingdom
Terminals	1 terminal (single building)	1 main terminal
Annual passengers	12M+	28M+

Operational comparison

Transport links, lounge access, connection times, and UK261 eligibility — verify locally before travel.

Policy	BHX — Birmingham	STN — London
Rail / public transport	—	—
To city centre	—	—
Lounge day pass	—	—
Min. connection time	—	—
Primary hub carriers	—	—

Detailed profiles

Birmingham, United Kingdom · BHX · #1 in this comparison

Birmingham Airport

1 terminal (single building) · 12M+ passengers/year

7.2 / 10

How good is Birmingham Airport?

Birmingham Airport (BHX) scores 7.2/10 (Very Good) on FlightLogic's airport index — combining on-time performance (7.0), passenger experience (7.1), and facilities (7.5). Lounge quality rates 7.0/10. See full airport guide →

In short

Birmingham BHX scores 7.2/10 on FlightLogic — Midlands gateway with on-site rail to Birmingham New Street (~10 min). Emirates daily to Dubai. UK261 covers all departures. See /guides/birmingham-airport-lounge-guide-2026.

FlightLogic Score 7.2 Very Good

On-time 7.0 Departure reliability

Experience 7.1 Staff, queues, cleanliness

Facilities 7.5 Food, shops, seating

Lounges 7.0 Lounge quality

Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Modelled on industry airport indices — on-time data, facilities ratings, and editorial experience signals combined into a single FlightLogic score.

On-Time Performance

7.0

Passenger Experience

7.1

Facilities & Comfort

7.5

Lounge score 7.0/10

Highlights

Birmingham International station — 10–15 min train to Birmingham New Street; CrossCountry and West Midlands Railway
Emirates daily B777 to Dubai — Midlands' primary long-haul link for Gulf connections
Jet2, TUI, and easyJet leisure base; Clubrooms lounge for premium passengers
UK261 applies — useful for Jet2 and TUI package holiday delays

Overview

Midlands gateway with single-terminal design, Birmingham International rail station on-site, and Emirates daily Dubai service.

Midlands connectivity

Birmingham serves the West Midlands and surrounding counties with a single-terminal design and direct rail link via Birmingham International station — Air-Rail Link people mover connects terminal to platforms in ~2 minutes.

Emirates operates daily Dubai service — the primary long-haul option for Midlands travellers avoiding Manchester or Heathrow positioning.

London, United Kingdom · STN · #2 in this comparison

London Stansted Airport

1 main terminal · 28M+ passengers/year

6.9 / 10

How good is London Stansted Airport?

London Stansted Airport (STN) scores 6.9/10 (Good) on FlightLogic's airport index — combining on-time performance (6.7), passenger experience (6.8), and facilities (7.0). Lounge quality rates 6.8/10. See full airport guide →

In short

London Stansted (STN) is rated 6.9/10 on FlightLogic — primarily a Ryanair and Jet2 leisure hub. Stansted Express to Liverpool Street ~45 min. Escape Lounge for Priority Pass. UK261 covers all departures. See /guides/stansted-airport-lounge-guide-2026.

FlightLogic Score 6.9 Good

On-time 6.7 Departure reliability

Experience 6.8 Staff, queues, cleanliness

Facilities 7.0 Food, shops, seating

Lounges 6.8 Lounge quality

Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Modelled on industry airport indices — on-time data, facilities ratings, and editorial experience signals combined into a single FlightLogic score.

On-Time Performance

6.7

Passenger Experience

6.8

Facilities & Comfort

7.0

Lounge score 6.8/10

Highlights

Ryanair's largest UK base — dominant low-cost hub for Europe and Mediterranean leisure routes
Stansted Express reaches London Liverpool Street in ~45 minutes — fastest rail link among London secondary airports
Single-terminal layout simplifies navigation; Escape Lounge accepts Priority Pass with pre-book recommended
UK261 applies to all UK-departing flights — including Ryanair and Jet2

Overview

London's third airport and Ryanair's largest UK base — single-terminal design, Stansted Express to Liverpool Street, and Escape Lounge for Priority Pass holders.

Ryanair hub and low-cost operations

Stansted is Ryanair's largest UK base, handling the majority of Europe and Mediterranean leisure traffic from London's eastern corridor. easyJet and Jet2 also operate significant schedules. For UK travellers chasing lowest fares, STN often undercuts Gatwick and Luton on the same routes — but factor in Stansted Express rail costs and strict Ryanair baggage rules.

UK261 compensation applies to all flights departing Stansted regardless of fare paid. A 3+ hour arrival delay on a UK-regulated flight triggers £220–£520 per passenger if the delay was the airline's fault.

Getting to central London

Stansted Express runs to Liverpool Street every 15 minutes at peak, taking ~45 minutes. National Express coaches serve Victoria and other London terminals — often cheaper but slower in traffic. Uber/Bolt use signed ride-app zones landside.

Compare STN against Gatwick (/airports/gatwick) and Luton for your route — Stansted wins on Ryanair frequency; Gatwick wins on Virgin long-haul and lounge depth.

FAQ

Which is better, Birmingham Airport or London Stansted Airport?

Birmingham Airport (BHX) scores higher overall at 7.2/10 versus London Stansted Airport (STN) at 6.9/10.

Which has better lounges, BHX or STN?

Birmingham Airport (BHX) scores higher for lounges at 7.0/10, versus London Stansted Airport at 6.8/10.

Which airport is more on-time, BHX or STN?

Birmingham Airport (BHX) has stronger on-time performance at 7.0/10 versus London Stansted Airport (STN) at 6.7/10.