If you’re flying across the planet in the next 12 months, you might want to think about routing that trip through one of Asia’s top airports.
Once again the region’s aviation hubs are leading the world when it comes to passenger satisfaction, scooping top prizes in the prestigious annual Skytrax World Airport Awards.
Maintaining its position at the top of that chart for an amazing sixth year in a row is Singapore’s Changi Airport.
The city-state’s gleaming facilities fended off stiff competition from the likes of Doha’s Hamad International and Hong Kong’s International Airport.
“To be voted the World’s Best Airport for the sixth consecutive year is a fabulous achievement for Changi Airport, and this award yet again demonstrates the airport’s popularity with international air travelers,” Edward Plaisted, CEO of UK-based Skytrax, said in a statement.
The annual awards, which were held in Stockholm on Wednesday, are based on millions of airport passenger surveys and have been dubbed “the Oscars of the aviation industry.”
On top of the world
Changi Airport, which celebrated serving 60 million passengers from almost 100 countries across the world in 2017, has 5,000 arrivals and departures a week, connecting customers to over 200 destinations.
Amenities on offer include two 24-hour movie theaters screening the latest blockbusters for free, a rooftop swimming pool and a sunflower garden that features several varieties of sunflowers grown in the airport’s on site nursery.
This is the ninth time it’s received the “world’s best airport” title at the annual awards in the past two decades.
While there were no new entries among the Top 10, Seoul’s Incheon International Airport moved up one place to No. 2, while last year’s second place holder Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) dropped to No. 3, keeping Asia’s stranglehold on the top slots.
Doha’s Hamad International Airport progressed to fifth place after coming in at No. 6 in 2017, while Munich Airport dropped from fourth to sixth place.
Moving up and down the ranks
There were few surprises in the Top 100, however Rome Fiumicino Airport achieved one of the biggest jumps, moving from 158th place to 85th, while Bahrain International Airport saw its ranking fall from 57th place to number 73.
Vancouver was the No.1 airport in North America yet again, although its ranking dropped one place to 14th.
Denver International Airport came out on top in the United States, claiming 29th place, while Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport fell eight spots from 26th to 34th on the list.
Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport ranked number 48, Atlanta Airport at 50, San Francisco International Airport at 51, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport at 56, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 62 and New York’s JFK International Airport at 69.
Skytrax also singled out airports for a variety of more specific awards, with categories such as food, shopping facilities and even cleanliness.
Tokyo International Airport won the vote as “the world’s cleanest airport,” while Incheon International Airport was awarded for its airport staff.
Hong Kong International Airport was voted the “world’s best transit airport” and the “best airport for dining,” but Japan’s Chubu Centrair Nagoya stole the title for “world’s best regional airport.”
2018 Skytrax World Airport Awards
1. Singapore Changi Airport
2. Incheon International Airport (Seoul, South Korea)
3. Tokyo International Airport (Haneda)
4. Hong Kong International Airport
5. Hamad International Airport (Doha, Qatar)
6. Munich Airport (Germany)
7. Chubu Centrair Nagoya (Japan)
8. London Heathrow Airport
9. Zurich Airport (Switzerland)
10. Frankfurt Airport (Germany)
1. Singapore Changi Airport: Changi Airport remains Skytrax’s “world’s best airport”, taking the title for the 6th year in a row and the 9th time in the past two decades.
2. Incheon International Airport (Seoul, South Korea): South Korea’s Incheon International Airport has moved up one place in the list, coming in 2nd this time. It also won an award for its airport staff.
3. Tokyo International Airport (Haneda): Haneda, last year’s 2nd place holder has dropped to No. 3 on Skytrax’s annual list. It won the vote as “the world’s cleanest airport.”
4. Hong Kong International Airport: Food and connectivity helped proper Hong Kong International up one place to the no. 4 spot. The airport was voted the “world’s best transit airport” and the “best airport for dining.”
5. Hamad International Airport (Doha, Qatar): Accommodating up to 30 million passengers a year, Doha’s pristine Hamad International Airport came in 5th place and was named the best airport in the Middle East. The airport prides itself on its displays of radical modern artworks.
6. Munich Airport (Germany): The second busiest airport in Germany came in at No. 6 and was also named Europe’s best airport. Munich is loved by many passengers for its in-airport brewery.
7. Chubu Centrair Nagoya (Japan): Centrair was voted the 7th best airport in the world and received the title for “world’s best regional airport.”
8. London Heathrow Airport: The busiest airport in Europe in terms of passenger traffic rose one place to take No. 8 on this year’s list. Heathrow has long held ambitions to expand with a second runway, but the plan is mired in political arguments.
9 . Zurich Airport (Switzerland): The largest international airport in Switzerland secured the No. 9 spot, down one place on it’s 2017 ranking.
10. Frankfurt Airport (Germany): Aviation ranking site Skytrax has released its best airport list for 2018. Click through the gallery to find which was named number one at the 2018 Skytrax World Airport Awards.
