Singapore Changi returns to top world’s best airport rankings

Singapore Changi Airport has been named the best in the world for a record 12th time at the 2023 World Airport Awards.

The airport beat Doha’s Hamad airport in the annual rankings compiled by Skytrax, a UK-based airline and airport review and ranking site.

In third was Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, followed by Seoul Incheon and Paris’ Charles de Gaulle rounding out the top five awards handed out Wednesday night at a ceremony in Amsterdam.

Skytrax Director Edward Plaisted highlighted the return of the Singapore airport to the top of the rankings after it had lost its top spot due to its paralysis during the first years of the pandemic, when the city-state was practically closed to the world to prevent Covid-19 outbreaks.

“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 expected to return to pre-pandemic levels by 2024,” Plaisted said.

Changi, which set the record for winning the award for the best airport in the world for eight consecutive years (2013-2020), was replaced at the top spot during the pandemic by Doha Hamad in 2022 and by Tokyo Haneda in 2021.

Chief Executive Officer of Changi Airport Group, Lee Seow Hiang, said that the award “is great encouragement to our airport community, who stood firmly together to battle the challenges of Covid-19 over the past two years… To our passengers, we are deeply grateful for your vote of confidence.”

Singapore Changi also topped the rankings for the Asia region, for leisure amenities and dining options. In addition, the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport won best airport hotel for the eighth consecutive year.

The winners received the best score in a global survey of travelers conducted by Skytrax between August 2022 and February 2023, which included questions about their experience with various aspects of the trip, such as arrival, shopping, security checks, immigration and access to boarding gates. EFE laprensalatina.com