In choosing the winners, travelers were asked to rate airports according to their full experience—from check in, arrivals, dining, transfers to departure.
Those of you traveling to or passing through Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar have a bit to look forward to as the airport has been named the World’s Best Airport by the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2024.
Dubbed as ‘the Oscars of the airport industry,’ Skytrax is one of the world’s most prestigious airline and airport star rating programs.
Hamad International Airport, home to a 6,000-square-meter indoor tropical garden and which offers unlimited free Wi-Fi, also takes the nod for World’s Best Airport Shopping.
In the second spot is last year’s winner, Changi Airport. Over the past few years, the first and second spots have been a ping-pong battle between the Doha and Singaporean gateways, with Hamad International Airport winning in 2021 and 2022 before Changi reclaimed the crown in 2023.
Photo by Thomas Paillini from Insider
The London-based research firm also named Changi the Best Airport in Asia and best in the world for its immigration service.
This is the third time that Hamad has clinched the top spot, while Changi has won a remarkable 12 times.
South Korea’s Incheon International Airport came in third and was also picked as the World’s Most Family Friendly Airport. Two Japan aviation hubs completed the top 5 with Tokyo Haneda and Tokyo Narita at numbers 4 and 5 respectively.
Noticeable is the absence of UK and US airports in the top 20. Some US airports, however, were able to take home awards: Newark Liberty Airport – Terminal A is the World’s Best New Airport Terminal and Houston Airport System takes home the World’s Best Airport Art and Entertainment award. London’s Heathrow Airport ranks a fairly respectable 21 out of 597 airports worldwide.
Photo by Joe Green from Unsplash
Other recognitions include Tokyo Narita Airport being awarded for customer service and named as having the World’s Best Airport Staff and the Best Airport Staff in Asia, and elsewhere in Japan, while Hokkaido’s New Chitose Airport has been voted as the World’s Most Improved Airport.
Dallas Fort-Worth Airport is a first-time winner in the World Airport Awards after being recognized as providing the Best Airport Staff Service in North America, and Vancouver International Airport returns to the top of the regional rankings, having been named the Best Airport in North America yet again.
Crowne Plaza Changi Airport wins the award for World’s Best Airport Hotel for the ninth time in the awards’ history and is also the Best Airport Hotel in Asia. Meanwhile, the TWA Hotel JFK has been voted by passengers as the Best Airport Hotel in North America.
Over in Europe, Rome Fiumicino Airport bags the award for the World’s Best Airport Security Processing for the first time. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 3 facility is the World’s Best Low-Cost Terminal, and the airport judged as the Best Airport in Europe for the second year in a row. Still in Paris, the Orly Airport, also run by Group ADP, has been voted by passengers as the Best Regional Airport in Europe.
Istanbul Airport takes the win for the World’s Best Airport Dining Experience and is also the Best Airport in Southern Europe. Helsinki Vantaa Airport has been named Best Airport in Northern Europe, and Budapest Airport is once again nominated as the Best Airport in Eastern Europe by the passenger vote.
Munich Airport is recognized as providing the Best Airport Staff Service in Europe, and as the Best Airport in Central Europe. In another win for the airport, the Hilton Munich Airport has been voted as the Best Airport Hotel in Europe for 2024.
Going down under, Melbourne Airport is the best in the Australia and Pacific region, and Perth Airport has the Best Airport Staff in Australia & the Pacific.
Moving on to Africa, South Africa scores two big wins. Cape Town Airport has been voted as the Best Airport in Africa and is also acknowledged as having the Best Airport Staff Service in the continent. King Shaka Airport is, again, the Best Regional Airport in Africa.
In choosing the winners, travelers were asked to rate airports according to their full experience—from check in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, dining, security, and immigration through to departure at the gate.
This year’s World Airport Awards ceremony was held at the Passenger Terminal Expo in Frankfurt on April 17. The awards were based on a global survey conducted by Skytrax from August 2023 until February 2024.
