Dubai is often mentioned in reports about The Biggest or The Best, but in 2015 Dubai International airport did not rank in the top 10 best airports in the world, despite increased passenger traffic numbers. So, it seems travelers expect more from the city’s airport facilities and services.
This year’s World’s Best Airport Awards, based on passengers’ vote, rank Singapore’s Changi Airport as number 1.
Dubai International has fallen 14 places to No.39 in the World Airport Awards 2015 by aviation industry consultancy Skytrax. The ranking is determined by votes during a nine-month survey of airline customers around the world, thus also known as the Passengers Choice Awards.
For the third consecutive year Singapore Changi wins the title of the World’s Best, followed closely by Seoul Incheon, and Munich airports. In fact, the top 10 airports are in either Asia or Europe, while the top U.S. airport is Cincinnati’s Northern Kentucky International. Passengers also chose Johannesburg’s airport as the best in Africa, while the best in South America is in Lima.
Along with the other regional rankings, fliers also voted on the best airports in the Middle East and on the top position, they chose Doha Hamad airport, which is 22nd in the overall ranking. It is followed by Abu Dhabi and Dubai on second and third places. Bahrain, Muscat, Riyadh, Tel Aviv, Dubai Al Maktoum, Kuwait and Beirut airports are also in the top 10. Compared to all other cities and airports, Dubai International does best in shopping – it’s the world’s fourth best airport for shopping. It is outperformed by Heathrow Airport, Singapore Changi, and Hong Kong.
Here are the world’s Top 10 Airports of 2015:
- Singapore Changi Airport
- Incheon Int’l Airport
- Munich Airport
- Hong Kong Int’l Airport
- Tokyo Int’l Airport Haneda
- Zurich airport
- Central Japan International Airport
- London Heathrow Airport
- Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
- Beijing Capital Int’l Airport
The People’s Choice Awards also rank the cleanest airports, which this year include Incheaon, Tokyo Haneda, and Centrair Nagoya. These rankings, of course, don’t depend on experts’ voting, number of passengers, revenue, or anything industry-related. They are simply decided by travelers who chose them for their quality of service, convenience, cleanness, helpful staff, and good organization. So, Dubai should probably focus not only on growing, but also on improving, because being the biggest doesn’t always means being the best.
