Hong Kong voted best airport

Hong Kong International airport has been named Best Airport in the World, but no UK airports feature in the top 10.

This is the seventh time in 10 years that Hong Kong airport has scooped the prestigious award. Winner in 2006, Singapore Changi airport, is in second place, with Seoul Incheon airport in third and Kuala Lumpur KLIA in fourth. Among European airports, Munich is ranked fifth, Copenhagen seventh, Zurich eighth and Helsinki ninth. More than 8.2 million questionnaires were completed by travellers around the world during the survey.

"The World Airport Survey evaluates a broad spectrum of product and service touchpoints across the airport experience, covering a wide spectrum of passenger types. Hong Kong was particularly notable for gaining highest satisfaction ratings in such a diverse market," explains Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, the aviation research company that conducted the survey.

"In recent years, the whole air travel experience has become much more focussed on the time customers spend in the airport environment, and Hong Kong has established itself as a clear passenger favourite in this respect," adds Plaisted.

Hong Kong airport has recently started a HK$4.5 billion enhancement programme for Terminal 1 and the airfield and says it is working hard to minimise inconvenience to passengers during the work which will go on until 2011.

Skytrax reports that overall customer satisfaction at airports during 2007/8 has improved. "Looking ahead, there is no doubt the severe financial crisis affecting the world airline industry will bring a rash of operational difficulties, cancelled/consolidated flights, and more airlines going under. In turn, this will put pressure on airports being able to react to and cope with the pressure points as they arise," says Plaisted.

Written by: Nick Purdom