Singapore Changi Airport named world’s best airport for 2014

IT’S got a pool, a cinema, free internet and a host of attractions. A flight delay is a bonus at the 2014 world’s best airport.

With attractions ranging from a pool to a cinema, a butterfly garden to free internet, Si

WITH smooth transfer, check-in and immigration facilities and attractions that include a rooftop pool and cinema, Singapore’s Changi Airport has been named the world’s best airport for 2014.

Singapore’s international gateway beat out Incheon International Airport in South Korea and Munich Airport in Germany to take the prize for a second year in a row at last night’s World Airport Awards in Barcelona.

Singapore’s international gateway was also named Best Airport for Leisure Amenities, with other facilities that include free internet, fish spas, a butterfly garden and children’s playgrounds.

The awards, which are based on 12.85 million customer votes, are run by UK-based aviation consultancy Skytrax.

“Changi Airport Singapore is showing itself to be more than an airport,” Skytrax chief executive Edward Plaisted said.

“Changi Airport offers a travel experience in itself and continues to develop its quality standards.

“Changi Airport is a well-known leader and innovator for the airport industry and genuinely delights and surprises travellers who are lucky enough to enjoy the airport facilities. Changi Airport demonstrates how to make the airport experience an enjoyable part of the journey that is so important in today’s fast-moving world,” he said.

This year, Asian and European airports dominated the top airport rankings.

But Australian airports weren’t left entirely empty-handed, with Sydney Airport squeaking into the top 10 domestic airports worldwide, with a ninth-place finish.

It was also ranked fifth-best airport serving 30-40 million passengers, while Brisbane and Melbourne finished third and fourth respectively in the 20-30 million passengers category.

New Zealand’s Auckland Airport was ranked the best hub in the Australia-Pacific region, with Sydney coming second.

For Australians, Changi Airport is one of our top international gateways, with 286,581 seats available on 929 flights each month between Australian airports and the city-state.

Singapore is also the number-one Asia-Pacific destination for travellers from Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney.

With its new Terminal 4 scheduled to open in 2017 and a mixed-use complex containing an indoor garden, new retail and dining options set to open the year after, Changi Airport will be able to accommodate 85 million passengers by 2018.

Top 10 international airports:

1. Changi Airport, Singaport

2. Incheon International Airport

3. Munich Airport

4. Hong Kong International Airport

5. Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam

6. Tokyo Haneda Airport

7. Beijing Capital International Airport

8. Zurich Airport

9. Vancouver International Airport

10. Heathrow Airport, London