Melbourne lands Skytrax honour for best airport in Australia-Pacific region

Melbourne has been crowned best airport in Australia-Pacific, with its staff also taking out the honour in the aviation “Oscars”.

Melbourne has been voted best airport in Australia-Pacific in the latest Skytrax ratings, considered the “Oscars” of the aviation world.

Melbourne Airport also won the honour for best staff in the region, in the awards announced overnight.

Singapore’s Changi Airport again claimed the crown of the World’s Best Airport, as well as awards for best dining and best leisure amenities.

Changi has won the top honour for the 12th time.

Melbourne Airport also won the Skytrax honour in 2020 and 2021.

The travel awards come as new data showed that international arrivals to Australia rose in January with 412,410 visitors but the total was still 43.6 per cent below pre-Covid levels.

High airfares and cost-of-living pressures have been blamed for the slow return.

The ABS report showed a continuation of monthly increase which began in October 2021 as pent-up demand filled airline seats.

Melbourne Airport chief executive Lorie Argus.

Melbourne Airport chief executive Lorie Argus said the awards recognised improvements at the terminals, as well as airfield infrastructure and staff training.

“Customer service is at the heart of what we do, and we’re incredibly proud of the work our team puts in to give our passengers the best experience they can,’’ Ms Argus said.

“Our ‘Stepping Forward’ program ensures all airport staff, whether they’re cleaners, plumbers, security or corporate are trained to help make the travel experience as easy as possible for our passengers.

“We’ve invested more than $40m upgrading our toilets and rest rooms, which have gone

from being one of our biggest cause of complaints to one of our biggest sources of pride.’’

Melbourne won the best airport prize for the region in 2020 and 2021.