The world’s best airports

It was only six in the evening, but I was so sleepdeprived I could barely find my way through the Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar. I had just landed after a turbulent sunrise flight across the glittering Aegean Sea and another four-hour flight to Doha.

Doha was the last of my stop before my nine-hour flight home.

I was really tired and feeling half dead. And flying from sunrise to sundown isn’t a joke especially when you’re flying economy class. It doesn’t get any better when you have an eight-hour layover in Doha and you have no access to a business class lounge where you can wait more comfortably.

But I was pleasantly surprised that I actually had a good time. I would later learn I was in one of the world’s best airports. Qatar’s Hamad International Airport has been touted as the best airport in the Middle East and the fifth best airport in the world, according to Skytrax. Its terminal has been described as the most architecturally significant terminal in the world, as well as the most luxurious.

More importantly, the aircon was working. If you’re from the Philippines and you go through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) often and endure the on-and-off AC, you would surely appreciate that. There are also enough charging stations, fast and reliable Wi-fi, and a variety of duty-free stores for window-shopping to kill the time. Then there’s an airport hotel, if you have money and time to spare. You can also get a massage.

As for me, I was hungry so I was happy to find a restaurant serving my favorite Indian dish of all time — chicken biryani and it was as good as I had imagined. I ordered yoghurt salad with it, making it a truly gastronomic experience.

The restrooms were clean, too and when I felt like sleeping, I found myself in a comfortable waiting area near my gate.

Philippine airports

I was green with envy. How can we not have such comfortable and modern airports? Why are other airports always better?

But there’s hope and I’m really keeping my fingers crossed.

Over the past several months, I’ve been talking to private sector proponents interested in redeveloping the country’s airports. There’s a lot to look forward to – that is, if they fulfill their promises.

Sangley Point

The local government of Cavite, for instance, which is pushing to develop Sangley Airport wants to pattern its gateway after the Hong Kong International Airport, touted as the fourth best airport in the world and a multiple winner of the world’s best airport title, according to Skytrax.

Naia Consortium

And then there’s the super consortium seeking to develop the bustling and congested NAIA. The group’s partner is Changi, which is behind the Singapore Changi Airport.

Changi is the best airport in the world, according to the Skytrax list. This gateway, which connects customers to over 200 destinations worldwide, is quite an experience. There is, for instance, a sunflower garden, which features several varieties of sunflowers. One can get a majestic view of the runway and aircraft parking bays from its rooftop haven.

If they win, I hope the consortium can make NAIA as good, if not better, than Changi.

They have formally submitted their revised offer for the country’s main gateway. The revised proposal no longer includes an ambitious third runway and now has a shorter concession period of up to 15 years.

Megawide consortium

Another strong contender for NAIA is the group of engineering conglomerate Megawide, whose partner Bangalore-based GMR, is also behind some of the world’s best airports -- Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.

From B3 And then there’s the group’s Mactan-Cebu International Airport, which bagged the Asia Pacific Regional Airport for the Year award from the Centre for Aviation.

Indeed, the offers on the table all look good. I do hope we will see the day when NAIA, or any of our airports, make it to the list of the world’s best airports. After all, the private sector proponents have partnered with companies behind the world’s best gateways. Having the best airport will be good for tourism, too. As businessman Joey Concepcion, who helped put together the NAIA consortium, told me, “We need this to boost tourism. We cannot just bank on our BPO sector, which is under threat from artificial intelligence.”

I do hope our airports get better and become the gateways that we, Filipinos, truly deserve. Who wouldn’t want that?

Good news from Washington

Congratulations to the Philippine Embassy of Washington’s Chef Abi Sincioco-Mateo.

Over the weekend, I received the news that Chef Abie bagged first place in both the Judges’ Choice and People’s Choice categories of the 2018 Embassy Chef Challenge held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center for this year’s Embassy Chef Challenge.

Chef Abie proudly served pork “sisig,” a traditional Filipino dish of chopped meat, seasoned with calamansi and hot chili.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose “Babe” Romualdez noted how Philippine cuisine is being recognized in the American mainstream and showcases our heritage.

Iris Gonzales’ e-mail address is eyesgonzales@gmail.com