Singapore Changi Airport, home to the world’s largest indoor waterfall, topped the list as the world’s best airport.
The 40-meter high Rain Vortex, which is the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, is seen from inside Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore. Photo by Reuters
“It’s bright and airy, with outdoor terraces, greenery, and a swimming pool,” wrote The Telegraph.
The airport was highly praised for its wide range of hotel accommodations, restaurants, and entertainment facilities for travelers.
Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, ranked 35th.
Located primarily in Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan Province, the airport spans 3,240 hectares, making it one of Southeast Asia’s largest international airports and a key regional aviation hub.
Built at an estimated cost of 155 billion baht (US$5 billion), Suvarnabhumi has two parallel runways and taxiways, enabling simultaneous takeoffs and landings.
The airport received acclaim for its practicality, which includes its proximity to Bangkok’s city center, high-quality hotels within a two-mile radius.
Soekarno–Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, Indonesia, secured the 38th spot.
Located approximately 30 kilometers west of Jakarta, the airport consists of three terminals and served 49.08 million passengers in 2023, ranked the 32nd busiest airport in the world and the 3rd busiest in Southeast Asia by Airports Council International.
The Telegraph highlighted its strong focus on practicality.
Tan Son Nhat International Airport, just eight kilometers from downtown Ho Chi Minh City, ranked 44th.
Handling 36 million passengers annually since 2017, Tan Son Nhat has consistently operated beyond its designed capacity of 25 million passengers per year. In 2023, the airport served over 40 million passengers.
Recent upgrades include improved terminal facilities, additional screening equipment, and the introduction of automated immigration gates to streamline passenger processing.
Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia, the country’s largest and busiest airport, ranked 46th.
Passengers waiting at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia. Photo by AP
Located about 45 kilometers south of downtown Kuala Lumpur, the airport handled over 47 million passengers in 2023. It serves as a major gateway for Malaysia’s capital and its surrounding metropolitan area.
Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, placed 66th.
The airport served 45.3 million passengers in 2023, a 47% increase from the previous year, and remains the busiest airport in the Philippines.
To compile the rankings, The Telegraph analyzed the 50 busiest airports worldwide in 2023 based on total passenger numbers, as well as the 20 busiest airports in Europe.
Over 30 criteria were considered, including connectivity, reliability, practicality, and passenger experience. Factors like Wi-Fi speed, the quality of restaurants and lounges, outdoor terraces, rest zones, drinking water fountains, and mobile charging points contributed to the evaluations.
Airports in Asia and the Middle East dominated the rankings, claiming the top five spots. The top 10 was rounded off with three airports in North America and two in Europe.
