ASIAN hospitality gets a nod from international travellers as the Airports
Council International (ACI) names the world's best airports.
Coming in No.1 is South Korea's Incheon International Airport for seven
straight years.
Singapore's Changi Airport came in a close second, also snagging the Best
Airport by Size award in the over 40 million passengers category.
The rest of the world's top performers - Beijing International Airport, Hong
Kong International Airport and Nagoya's international airport in third, fourth
and fifth spots - all hail from Asia.
The annual Airport Service Quality (ASQ) survey is a passenger satisfaction
benchmark programme used by over 200 airports worldwide.
Random passengers are interviewed at departure gates and given a standard
survey used at all participating airports. A minumum of 1,400 passengers are
surveyed at each airport per annum.
ACI Director Angela Gittens said in a press release: "What we are seeing
across the globe is growing recognition among airport managers of the
importance of quality customer service across the entire airport experience. In
an era of increasing competition for passenger traffic, delivering consistent
high levels of customer service can drive passenger loyalty and positively
impact airport revenues."
The airport which made the most improvement in the Asia-Pacific region is
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport.
Find out which airports provide the best services in major continents of the
world.
maryanns@sph.com.sg
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TOP 3 AIRPORTS IN AFRICA
1. Cape Town International Airport (Cape Town, South Africa)
The airport had recently undergone a complete transformation under its R2.3
billion (S$4.8 million) expansion programme. A new terminal has been built and
the airport also has a new road network system, allowing smoother vehicular
movement to and from the airport, as well as some 7,000 additional parking bays.
2. Cairo International Airport (Cairo, Egypt)
3. Durban International Airport (Durban, South Africa)
The airport had its first full year of operation last year, following opening
for the 2010 World Cup, and has been placed third in Africa.
TOP 3 AIRPORTS IN EUROPE
1. Malta International Airport (Malta)
Malta Airport has been named Best Airport in Europe in the 2011 for the second
year in a row. Commenting on the win, Mr Markus Klaushofer, CEO of Malta
International Airport said: “It gives you confidence and energy to know that
all the hard work is reaping results and that we’re on the right track."
[Source: ACI]
2. Edinburgh Airport (Edinburgh, Scotland)
It is the first time Scotland's second busiest and UK's sixth largest airport
is winning an ASQ award.
3. Porto Airport (Porto, Portugal)
The airport has been named one of the top European airports in the ASQ survey
for the sixth consecutive year.
Porto Airport's Director Mr Fernando Gaspar Vieira said: "In 2011 we focused
mainly on improving passenger comfort through the following initiatives: better
pedestrian access to the passenger terminal, more free internet access spots,
year-round live music in the departures area, improved channels and signage for
transfer passengers, passenger and other stakeholder oriented events throughout
the year, new shopping areas, more parking spaces, updated flight information
displays, new shuttles services to and from Porto and Braga as well as free
wireless access inside the airport lounge." [Source: ACI]
TOP 3 AIRPORTS IN LATIN AMERICA AND CARRIBEAN
1. Cancun International Airport (Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico)
For the third year in a row, Cancún Airport has been named Best Airport in
Latin America & Caribbean.
2. Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport (Guayaquil, Ecuador)
3. San Jose Airport (Puerto San Jose, Guatemala)
Since 2009 when the airport came under the administration of AERIS, it has been
modernised in record time with a 40 per cent increase of the airline checking
counters and a 100 per cent increase of security and migration counters.
