Exeter Airport is the happiest in the world

Exeter Airport is the happiest in the world, according to a new report.

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The UK airport topped the list by HappyOrNot, the company responsible for creating the globally-recognisable 'Smiley' feedback system.

Exeter received an average feedback score of 88.66%, while Cork Airport and Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (Rome) came joint second with 88.45%.

HappyOrNot's Airport Report was based on 158 million data-points from HappyOrNot smiley terminals in 160 airports across 36 countries.

Newcastle International Airport, London Southend Airport and Cardiff Airport also made the top eight list.

Exeter Airport's Managing Director, Matt Roach, said: "We know that the procedures at an airport can be stressful, but our staff do their best to ease the journey for the travellers and this shows in the consistently high positive ratings.

"I am very proud of the performance reflected in the responses, and the magnificent achievement of being in the top spot."

The report also revealed that the happiest time of day for travellers to fly is 9am, with a happiness rating of 85.7%, closely followed by 8am with 85.5%.

When it comes to the happiest day of the week to travel, Tuesdays (happiness rating of 83.4%) are when travellers are most satisfied, followed closely by both Wednesdays and Thursdays (83.2%).

The eight happiest airports in the world:

1. Exeter Airport, U.K. – 88.66%
2. = Cork Airport, Republic of Ireland – 88.45%
2. = Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (Rome), Italy – 88.45%
4. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, U.S.A. – 87.35%
5. Newcastle International Airport, U.K. – 87.05%
6. London Southend Airport, U.K. – 86.79%
7. Cardiff Airport, U.K. – 86.57%
8. Keflavik International Airport, Iceland – 86.35%