This was published 2 years ago
Skytrax names world's best airports 2021: After nearly a decade on top, Singapore's Changi dethroned
By Alan Granville
Hamad International Airport in Doha.Credit: iStock
Singapore's Changi has finally been replaced as the world's best airport.
Skytrax's annual ranking of the world's best airports has a new name on top – Doha's Hamad International Airport in Qatar.
Changi, which has ruled for the last eight years, has slipped to third behind Tokyo's Haneda Airport.
Jewel at Changi Airport: The Singapore hub has slipped from its number one position as world's best airport to number three.
The rankings are voted for by the public, and Skytrax admits that the rankings have been affected by the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.
"The 2021 World Airport Awards recognise the efforts of global airports in adapting and meeting the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. The past 18 months has been the most challenging and financially difficult period ever experienced by the world air transport industry, and airports have invested to provide the safest possible environment for their customers and staff during the global pandemic."
It added that "many travellers (are) voting for their favourite/best airport based on pre-pandemic travel experiences, whilst other customers voted after their Covid-19 Airport Experience during the past 12 months".
The top three airports in Australia were Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, ranked respectively at 22, 28 and 32.
On crowning Doha's Hamad International Airport the winner, Skytrax's Edward Plaisted said it had been making rapid progress over the years.
"Inaugurated in 2014, Hamad International Airport has rapidly become a customer favourite and moved from number 3 in the world in 2020 to be ranked World's Best Airport this year," said Plaisted.
"As travel hubs worldwide have been impacted by the pandemic, Hamad International Airport was undeterred by the global travel disruptions and continued with its expansion plans while introducing additional airport health and safety standards."
Elsewhere, Istanbul Airport is the World's Most Improved Airport, moving up from 102 in 2020 to 17 this year. You can view all the categories and winners here.
World's Best Airport:
- Hamad International – Qatar (last year 3)
- Tokyo Haneda – Japan (2)
- Singapore Changi Airport (1)
- Seoul Incheon – South Korea (4)
- Tokyo Narita – Japan (7)
- Munich – Germany (5)
- Zurich – Switzerland (11)
- London Heathrow – UK (12)
- Kansai – Japan (10)
- Hong Kong (6)
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