After almost 10 years, Skytrax's annual ranking of the world's best airports has a new name on top – Doha's Hamad International Airport in Qatar.
Singapore Changi, which has ruled for the last eight years, has slipped to third behind Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. The rankings are voted for by the public, and Skytrax admits that the rankings have been affected by the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.
“The 2021 World Airport Awards recognise the efforts of global airports in adapting and meeting the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Skytrax.
“The past 18 months has been the most challenging and financially difficult period ever experienced by the world air transport industry, and airports have invested to provide the safest possible environment for their customers and staff during the global pandemic.”
Two New Zealand airports are in the top 100 but both Auckland and Christchurch have slipped. Auckland is at 35, down from 29 last year, while Christchurch drops from 65 to 79. The best airport in the Australasia region is Melbourne.
On crowning Doha's Hamad International Airport the winner, Skytrax’s Edward Plaisted said it had been making rapid progress over the years.
“Inaugurated in 2014, Hamad International Airport has rapidly become a customer favourite and moved from number 3 in the world in 2020 to be ranked World’s Best Airport this year,” said Plaisted.
“As travel hubs worldwide have been impacted by the pandemic, Hamad International Airport was undeterred by the global travel disruptions and continued with its expansion plans while introducing additional airport health and safety standards.”
World's Best Airport:
- Hamad International – Qatar (last year 3)
- Tokyo Haneda – Japan (2)
- Singapore Changi Airport (1)
- Seoul Incheon – South Korea (4)
- Tokyo Narita – Japan (7)
- Munich – Germany (5)
- Zurich – Switzerland (11)
- London Heathrow – UK (12)
- Kansai – Japan (10)
- Hong Kong (6)
