The Best Airports in the World have Movie Theaters, Spas, and Mini Golf
Skytrax released its annual list of the best airports in the world at the Passenger Terminal Expo in Stockholm, Sweden. Singapore’s Changi International Airport took the top spot for the sixth year in a row. Airports from Asia swept the Top five spots. No US airport placed in the Top 25.
The consumer-aviation website Skytrax held its annual World Airport Awards ceremony on Wednesday at the Passenger Terminal Expo in Stockholm, Sweden.
For the sixth consecutive year, Singapore Changi International Airport took home the crown as the world’s best airport.
The facility is one of Southeast Asia’s largest transit hubs and is a major cog in the citystate’s bustling economy.
Airports from Asia dominated the top of the Skytrax rankings, sweeping the first five spots.
European airports also performed well, with four in the top 10.
Only one North American airport made it into the top 15. No US Airports made it into the top 25 with Denver International being the highest-ranked at 29.
The Skytrax annual rankings are based on the impressions of nearly 14 million flyers from over 100 countries.
More than 550 airports were included in the survey, which covers 39 service and performance parameters, including facility comfort, the location of bathrooms, and the language skills of the airport staff.
Meanwhile, Nadi International Airport, Fiji’s flagship airport and the regional hub of the South Pacific, has been ranked as one of the World’s Most Improved Airports.
The $129 million Nadi Airport terminal upgrade project was completed in April of 2017. The airport now features a two-lane departures drop-off area, a bigger, high-ceilinged departures terminal, self-check-in kiosks, an expanded departures immigration area with additional counters, a brand-new departures lounge with world-class duty-free shopping, a kids’ play area, a prayer room, a smoking lounge, brand new airline lounges, an expanded arrivals landing area with additional immigration counters, additional carousel, and more. Fiji Airways also unveiled its new, state-of-the-art business class lounge at the airport in December.
Here’s a closer look at the other airports that made it to the top of the prestigious Skytrax list:
1. Singapore Changi International Airport (SIN)
Yearly passengers: 62.2 million Previous rank: 1
Why it’s awesome: For the sixth year in a row, Changi takes the crown as the world’s best airport.
Changi serves as home to Singapore Airlines, Silkair, and Tigerair, and it’s the 16thbusiest airport in the world.
The Singaporean airport has received praise from flyers for its beautiful architecture, efficient operation, luxurious amenities, and dining and shopping options. Flyers passing through are treated to movie theaters, a multimedia entertainment deck, spas, and a wild corkscrew slide. Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is for 2017, provided by Changi Airport Group.
2. Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Yearly passengers: 57.8 million Previous rank: 3
Why it’s awesome: Incheon maintains its place as one of the world’s elite airports with a third-place finish.
Located on an island just outside of the South Korean capital, Incheon is home base to Korean Air and is the 24th-busiest airport in the world.
It opened in 2001.
Incheon’s highly regarded facilities feature an array of shopping and dining options, in addition to a bevy of cultural performances. The airport even has a Korean culture museum.
Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is for 2016, provided by Airport Council International.
3. Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND)
Yearly passengers: 79.9 million Previous rank: 2
Why it’s awesome: Haneda is one of two major international airports that serve the Tokyo area.
Located a few miles from the heart of the Japanese capital, Haneda has proved to be a popular port of entry for business travelers and tourists.
The world’s fifth-busiest airport, Haneda is known for its service efficiency, cleanliness, and shopping.
Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is for 2016, provided by Airports Council International.
4. Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
Yearly passengers: 70.3 million Previous rank: 5
Why it’s awesome: Built on an artificial island off the coast of Hong Kong, HKG has become one of the most popular facilities in the world since it opened in 1998.
One of the busiest airports in Asia, Hong Kong International serves as the home to Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Airlines, and Dragonair.
Be sure to play around at the SkyCity Nine Eagles golf course near Terminal 2. Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is for 2016, provided by Airports Council International.
5. Hamad International Airport (DOH))
Yearly passengers: 37.3 million Previous rank: 6
Why it’s awesome: Hamad International opened for business in 2014 and is now home to Qatar Airways.
The airport and its two terminals sit on 5,400 acres of land and cost US$16 billion (FJ$32bn) to construct.
Skytrax describes the facility as the “the most architecturally significant terminal complex in the world, as well as being the most luxurious.”
Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is for 2016, provided by Hamad International Airport.
6. Munich Airport (MUC)
Yearly passengers: 42.3 million Previous rank: 4
Why it’s awesome: Located northeast of downtown Munich, MUC is one of the busiest airports in Europe and the second-busiest in Germany, after Frankfurt.
Munich serves as a major hub for Air Berlin, Lufthansa, and Condor, and it features airy, glass-heavy architecture. A nearby visitors’ park features mini golf and a display of historic aircraft.
Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is for 2016, provided by Munich Airport.
7. Central Japan International Airport (NGO)
Yearly passengers: 9.8 million Previous rank: 7
Why it’s awesome: Built on an artificial island in the middle of Ise Bay near the city of Nagoya, Central Japan International — also known as Centrair — is a focus city for Japan Airlines and ANA.
Centrair holds the distinction as the best regional airport in the world.
It has a 1,000-foot sky deck where passengers can watch ships sail into the Port of Nagoya. There’s also a traditional Japanese bathhouse, where you can have a relaxing soak while watching the sunset over the bay. Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is for 2014, provided by Skytrax.
8. London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Yearly passengers: 75.7 million Previous rank: 9
Why it’s awesome: Heathrow is the world’s seventh-busiest airport and the largest of the five primary airports serving London. Heathrow is in the midst of a major renovation with the addition of a new Terminal 2 building. Its eight-year-old Terminal 5 building was named the best airport terminal in the world by Skytrax.
Heathrow serves as the main hub for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is for 2016, provided by Airports Council International.
9. Zurich Airport (ZRH)
Yearly passengers: 27.7 million Previous rank: 8
Why it’s awesome: Just eight miles from the heart of Zurich, the airport serves as the home base for Swiss International Air Lines and as a hub linking Switzerland’s largest city with the rest of the country.
For passengers with an extended layover, Zurich Airport offers bicycle and inlineskate rentals and excursions to the Swiss Museum of Transport Lucerne. Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is for 2016, provided by Zurich Airport.
Yearly passengers: 60.8 million Previous rank: 10
Why it’s awesome: Frankfurt Airport is the fourth-busiest airport in Europe and one of the most important transit hubs in the world. FRA is home base to Lufthansa and its fleet of more than 280 jets.
Skytrax reviewers praised the airport for the ease of transit between terminals and the abundant shopping and dining options. Some, however, have complained of lengthy lines at immigration.
Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is for 2016, provided by Airports Council International.