World's Best Airport Rankings

[hkskyline]

For the seventh time in 10 years, Hong Kong International Airport has been named as the traveller's favourite - being voted World's Best Airport 2008 in the World Airport Awards™
http://www.worldairportawards.com/Aw...irport2008.htm

LONDON - 14th July 2008 : Hong Kong International Airport has been named the World's Best Airport for 2008, in the worldwide passenger survey results released today by Skytrax. Representing a notable achievement, this is the 7th time in ten years that the accolade has been won by Hong Kong International Airport.

Singapore Changi Airport remains firmly positioned itself at the top end of the rankings, in 2nd position worldwide, ahead of Seoul Incheon International Airport in 3rd place. Asian airport dominance of the high survey rankings is topped off by Kuala Lumpur International Airport, which moves up into 4th place in the 2008 results.

"We congratulate Hong Kong for their repeated success in winning the World's best Airport title" said Skytrax CEO, Mr Edward Plaisted. "In recent years, the whole air travel experience has become much more focussed on the time customers spend in the airport environment, and Hong Kong has established itself as a clear passenger favourite in this respect."

"The World Airport Survey evaluates a broad spectrum of product and service touchpoints across the airport experience, covering a wide spectrum of passenger types. Hong Kong was particularly notable for gaining highest satisfaction ratings in such a diverse market. Like any other business, an airport is striving to deliver world-class standards that will make a customer want to use it again, and achieving this level of loyalty requires the highest levels of quality consistency - something where Hong Kong was singled out again and again during the survey."

"Over the last 10 years, the Skytrax World Airport Awards have become recognised as the trusted, global symbol of quality for airports," said Edward Plaisted. "Our survey participants represent the most experienced, diverse and discerning travellers in the marketplace, and airports throughout the world recognize the inherent value that comes with their endorsement."

The 2006 title winner, Singapore Changi Airport, is ranked 2nd in the 2008 World Airport Awards, with Seoul Incheon Airport in 3rd, and KLIA Kuala Lumpur moving into 4th place.

"We again saw a very tight finish to this 2007/8 passenger survey, with very close margins seen between the World's Top 3 airports. The opening of the new Terminal 3 at Singapore Changi was clearly visible from results during the survey, with customer satisfaction levels showing marked increases for this airport over the period it was included. We have yet to see what impact the new Concourse Terminal will have upon passenger ratings for Seoul Incheon Airport, with this being too late to have any impact on these 2008 results" said Plaisted.

Munich Airport is again the winner of Best Airport in Europe title, and also ranked 5th in the world - out of more than 190 airports. San Francisco was named Best Airport North America, ahead of Vancouver (2nd) and Dallas/Fort Worth in 3rd position for the region.

In the Middle East passengers have to wait awhile for airport improvements, with the new airports yet to open in Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi. In the meantime, Best Airport for the region is Tel Aviv (1st), Bahrain (2nd) and Muscat (3rd).

Best Airport in Africa is Cape Town, which for the first time has entered the World's Top 10 Airports in 10th position, with Johannesburg ranked 2nd in Africa, ahead of Addis Ababa in 3rd place.

ABOUT THE SURVEY

The World Airport Survey is conducted by UK-based aviation research organisation, Skytrax, with more than 8.2 million questionnaires completed by passengers across the world, during the 10 month survey period.

Passenger interviews include a detailed appraisal for more than 40 categories of product and service quality from check-in to departure, from arrivals to baggage collection - including terminal cleanliness, staff efficiency, staff courtesy, terminal signage, security processing, immigration and customers, walking distances, as well as features like shopping, dining options, internet services.

Survey Methodology
http://www.worldairportawards.com/main/methods.htm

RESULTS
1. Hong Kong
2. Singapore Changi
3. Seoul Incheon
4. Kuala Lumpur KLIA
5. Munich
6. Kansai
7. Copenhagen
8. Zurich
9. Helsinki
10. Cape Town

[EricIsHim]

[jeremy1897]

This sort of airport of the year contest has not much meaning to me because if it is not Hong Kong it is Singapore. HKIA emerged as the best airport some years ago, but I dont think it has much improvement over the year. It takes quite long time to wait for a luggage. Of course it is already way better than most other airports, I really expect everything to improve but not downgrade.

But btw, I personally think the architecture of Singapore is crap. I pointed this in Singaporean thread and received fierce defense. What do you guys think ?



Thread: Changi Airport Terminal 3 !!!
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...=70216&page=32

[pookgai]

Originally Posted by jeremy1897

This sort of airport of the year contest has not much meaning to me because if it is not Hong Kong it is Singapore. HKIA emerged as the best airport some years ago, but I dont think it has much improvement over the year. It takes quite long time to wait for a luggage. Of course it is already way better than most other airports, I really expect everything to improve but not downgrade.

But btw, I personally think the architecture of Singapore is crap. I pointed this in Singaporean thread and received fierce defense. What do you guys think ?



Thread: Changi Airport Terminal 3 !!!
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...=70216&page=32

Yes, it is pretty dire... however, an airport is more than just a piece of architecture.

I think HKIA has improved over it's 10 years of operation. Especially with the completion of T2 (still has a way to go) and with the neighbouring convention centre. Additional facilities are being delivered in the near future with added hotels, business centres and a golf course. HKIA has maintained the highest standards (IMHO) of service delivery and cleanliness. I never have to wait more than 5-10 minutes for my luggage, even when my gate is near immigration. The introduction of the biometric immigration system means I get through immigration practically instantly.

[Anekdote]

Originally Posted by pookgai

I never have to wait more than 5-10 minutes for my luggage, even when my gate is near immigration. The introduction of the biometric immigration system means I get through immigration practically instantly.

Yes, that's what I also like about HKG airport at most, instant immigration for HKid smart card owner. Do other airports also support a similar system?

[hkskyline]

I thought luggage took longer to come out, but that might be because immigration is now so quick with the smart card machines.

[Skybean]

Yeah! Go HK!

By far the best airport I have ever travelled through. As pointed out, the finger print entry is great!

[trueapprentice]

Hong Kong voted world's best airport
Reuters | Thursday, 17 July 2008

Email a Friend | Printable View | Have Your Say Related Links
Subscribe to Archivestuff
Have your say

Advertisement

AdvertisementHong Kong International Airport was voted the world's best for the seventh year in a annual survey of passengers, with Asian airports dominating the top positions in the list.


The annual survey conducted by Skytrax, a UK-based consultancy, judges airports on more than 40 categories, ranking them after collecting 8.2 million questionnaires completed by passengers over a 10-month time period from 2007 to 2008.

The passengers judged 190 airports on factors like shopping, dining, staff courtesy, baggage delivery and wait-times at security.

Overall, airports in Asia did well. Hong Kong, with its reputation for efficiency and comfort, beat Singapore's Changi Airport and Seoul's Incheon Airport in South Korea, which were ranked second and third respectively.

Hong Kong has held the title of best airport seven times. Only once, in 2006, it was knocked from the No. 1 slot by Singapore's Changi Airport.

"In recent years, the whole air travel experience has become much more focused on the time customers spend in the airport environment, and Hong Kong has established itself as a clear passenger favorite in this respect," said Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted in a statement.

Also in the top 10 were airports in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Kansai in Japan.

Munich in Germany was voted the top European airport, ranked fifth in the world, while Copenhagen in Denmark, Zurich, Switzerland, and Helsinki, Finland also made the top 10. Cape Town, South Africa rounded out the list at No. 10.

There were no North American airports in the top 10 list. San Francisco did best, ranked 11th, followed by Vancouver in Canada and Dallas/Forth Worth.

In the Middle East, passengers ranked the best airport for the region as Tel Aviv, followed by Bahrain.

Plaisted said waiting times at security checkpoints was a major cause of passenger discontent.

"Easy transportation, quick check-in, good shopping and dining facilities, clean terminal areas - all the positives can easily be undone when confronted by a 20 minutes security queue, especially if one also finds that only half the security facilities are operational," he said.

Plaisted said total customer satisfaction for many airports had improved in the past year but the financial crisis ahead would impact the airline industry and bring on a rash of operational difficulties, cancelled and consolidated flights and more airlines going under.

"In turn, this will put pressure on airports being able to react to and cope with the pressure points as they arise," he said.

[kentan8]

During the past 3 weeks, I have used all 3 terminals at Changi Airport. Terminal 1 is in dire need of a make-over (borderline 3rd-world-looking). Terminal 2 is better but is starting to look dated (and dark). Terminal 3, though being brand new, does make me feel dizzy giving the excessively busy-looking patterns at the main check-in hall. However, once you passed through security, the environment is much more pleasant. I'd wish they'd tone down the hectic geometric patterns on both the ceiling and the floors.

[zergcerebrates]

I think Changi Terminal 3 is quite gorgeous.