Singapore’s Changi Airport has been named the World’s Best Airport at the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2023.
In the African category, Cape Town International Airport in South Africa beats Nigeria, Ethiopia, Senegal, and Ghana for Best Airport, Best Airport Staff, and the Cleanest Airport in Africa.
Customers in the annual global airport customer satisfaction survey voted for the World Airport Awards.
Changi airport, home to a 40m-high indoor waterfall that’s the world’s most significant and the overall winner 11 times previously, also won awards for World’s Best Airport Dining, World’s Best Airport Leisure Amenities, and Best Airport in Asia.
The 2021 and 2022 Airport of the Year, Hamad International Airport in Doha, takes second place in the global ranking and won three top awards for the World’s Best Airport Shopping, the Best Airport in the Middle East, and the Cleanest Airport in the Middle East.
Tokyo Haneda Airport came third in the global ranking and picked up a trio of awards at the ceremony, held at the Passenger Terminal Expo in Amsterdam recently. It won World’s Cleanest Airport, World’s Best Domestic Airport, and Best Airport PRM & Accessible Facilities.
Accolades also flew in for New York, with Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport receiving the award for World’s Best New Airport Terminal, on the same day that it received the highest ‘5-Star Airport Terminal Rating’ from Skytrax.
Rick Cotton, Executive Director of the Port Authority said, “our goal at the Port Authority was to completely transform the customer experience at LaGuardia, from curb to gate, by building a brand-new, world-class airport.
“Winning this prestigious award and becoming the first North American airport terminal to receive a 5-star rating from Skytrax proves that we have accomplished what many once said was impossible: elevate LaGuardia from worst to best.”
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is fifth in the global ranking and was named the Best Airport in Europe, with Munich Airport winning the Best Airport Staff Service in Europe award, as well as the Best Airport in Central Europe.
Istanbul Airport won awards for the Most Family Friendly Airport and the Best Airport in Southern Europe.
A new award for 2023, Skytrax introduced the Art in the Airport category for the first time, with the winning airport being Houston Airport System in recognition of the art standards across its two airports, William P. Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport. For Art in the Airport, the results are based on the Skytrax judging panel and not customer survey results.
Elsewhere in North America, Seattle–Tacoma International Airport won the award for Best Airport in North America.
In the Australia/Pacific region, Melbourne Airport won the awards for the Best Airport in Australia & Pacific and the Best Airport Staff in Australia & Pacific.
Edward Plaisted of Skytrax said: “We congratulate Singapore Changi Airport on being named the World’s Best Airport for 2023. After being severely hit during the Covid-19 pandemic, it is pleasing to note that passenger numbers at Changi Airport are now at about 80 percent of pre-Covid-19 levels, and are expected to return to pre-pandemic levels by 2024.
“This recognition for Changi Airport is from the airport customers and serves to underline the airport’s popularity with international air travelers. Winning this award as the World’s Best Airport is a very clear recognition of the team effort amongst all staff at the airport who contribute to Changi Airport’s success,” he said.
Source: The Guardian