2014: The 10 Best Airports In The World

Business Insider ^ | 03/27/2014 | ALEX DAVIES AND JULIE ZEVELOFF

[SeekAndFind]

Skytrax has released the results of its annual World Airport Awards and, once again, Singapore's Changi Airport has taken the top spot. It's no surprise that Changi came out on top again. The international transit hub has incredible amenities, such as a butterfly garden, rooftop pool, movie theaters, hotels, spas, and showers — and even a four-story slide.

Skytrax based its rankings on 12.85 million customer nominations across 110 nationalities and included 410 airports worldwide. It incorporated passenger satisfaction across nearly 40 categories, including service and shopping and security and immigration.

All the airports commended last year made the 2014 list, but in a slightly different order.

10. London's Heathrow Airport

Yearly passengers: 69.4 million

Why it's awesome: Despite London Mayor Boris Johnson's concern that Heathrow gives visitors "a terrible impression of the U.K.," the overcrowded airport made it into Skytrax's top 10.

The third-busiest airport in the world in 2011, it took home the awards for Best Airport Shopping and Best Airport Terminal, for T5, which opened in 2008 after a $6.2 billion, 19-year design and construction process.

Heathrow's Skytrax review includes four or five out of five-star rankings for ease of use, flight information, public transport, security staff efficiency, and more

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9. Vancouver International Airport

Yearly passengers: 18 million

Why it's awesome: The least busy airport in Skytrax's top 10, Vancouver International offers visitors a large collection of Pacific Northwest native art.

Skytrax named Vancouver International the Best Airport in North America for the fourth year in a row in 2013, a streak that justifies the $1.4 billion that the airport spent on a recent expansion. It also ranked top for staff.

Volunteers, known as green coat ambassadors, help travelers get to where they're going.

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8. Zurich Airport

Yearly passengers: 24.8 million

[RitchieAprile]

Camranh Bay was my gate to heaven! What is Ton Son Nhut
like these days?

[dfwgator]

Danang (departing) in 1969 was the gate to heaven!

"Danang Me...Danang Me...they oughta take a rope and hang me....."

[clintonh8r]

Good point! Great for departures....arrivals not so much!

[Cboldt]

Williamsport, PA, and I’d put Mosinee, Wisconsin on the list too.

[lurk]

Having flown around in India, I can start a discussion on the list of worst airports.

[Slambat]

Bunk. Most of these countries don’t even have indoor
plumbing, paved roads, electricity or phone service.
Heathrow? Come on.

The one thing that all these countries have in common. None
of them have a bill of rights.

[Dagnabitt]

The best airport experiences I've had in the US, were way back when I was flying Army helicopters. When we flew far from base for training or deployment, we would fuel at the same FBOs (fixed base operator) where the general aviation, private-jet crowd fueled. Very nice accommodations, free food and snacks (we had to pass on the booze), good-looking female staff, etc. And of course, no TSA.

[Dead Dog]

3S7-Nehalem Oregon

[max americana]

I’m originally from Vancouver so I thought it was a laugher. YVR is just “clean”, and I’m not even impressed. I head there being an EX kanadian, twice/3x in a year. Actually, it’s effing’ boring. If you are so impressed with totem poles of Natives, by all means, call it the best LOL

Plus, I head to HK as my sister works for a multinational bank so I also visit her twice/3x a year on the way to the Philippines. Same thing: it’s clean.

[max americana]

I’ve been to the WORST airport in the world every year: the NAIA in the Philippines and 4 of the 10 best according to this ranking. I’m more excited about the RP because you will just laugh at how corrupt these clowns are at the airport after disembarking...

[stboz]

Tampa International...best sense 1970.

[Wage Slave]

Lynchburg, Virginia. Even the TSA agents have nice Southern manners.

[BwanaNdege]

"Danang Me...Danang Me...they oughta take a rope and hang me....."

Ah, Roger Miller, perhaps the greatest Western Philosopher of the last 50 years!

[BwanaNdege]

I only made it to DaNang & Saigon. Yes, all the locals we met still call it Saigon.

Both were OK airports. Not at all like, say, Mogadishu, Llongwe or Port au Prince.

:-)

Truthfully, I’d prefer Saigon or DaNang to JFK...just the airport experience, not being on American soil vs Vietnamese. If need be, once I get to JFK I could WALK home in a few months!

[Mr. Blond]

Spokane International is my favorite. Small, easy to get to, direct flights to where you want to go, and gets you out of Spokane.

[Afterguard]

Don’t forget Miami. My vote for the worst ever.

[dfwgator]

My airport, DFW International, is really trying my patience these days.

[11th Commandment]

For US Airport, the Albuquerque Airport is the most unique and comfortable Airport in the US. For international flights, most are older and not laid-out well for international travel.

Barcelona did not make the list at it is very nice.

[lulu16]

My favorite is Honolulu International Airport. They have expanded it since I was a kid in the ‘60’s, but the minute you get off the plane and feel the soft trade winds and the air fragrant with flowers, you know you are in paradise.

In my estimation, no other American or tropical airport has this kind of ambrosial ambiance.

[Uncle Chip]

5 of the 10 best in the Far East —