These are the best airports in the world – and Heathrow is in 8th place
Singapore's Changi Airport won best airport for the ninth time at the Skytrax 2018 World Airport Awards
SINGAPORE’S Changi Airport has won the title of ‘Best airport in the world’ for the sixth year running.
Asia dominated the top five at the Skytrax 2018 World Airport Awards, with Incheon, Tokyo and Hong Kong International Airports coming at second, third and fourth place.
Hamad airport in Doha, Qatar, rounded at the top five in the awards, which are voted for by air travellers in the largest, annual global airport customer satisfaction survey.
The UK also got a mention in the top ten thanks to London’s Heathrow Airport, which came in eighth place.
Heathrow also nabbed the No.1 spot for in the “Best airport shopping” category and ninth place in the “Best airport dining” category.
The west London airport also got a chance to shine in the “Best terminal” category – where its T2 terminal landed the No.1 spot, and its T5 terminal took fourth place.
In addition, the Sofitel London Heathrow was awarded fifth place in the “Best airport hotel” category.
The awards were based on 13.73 million airport survey questionnaires completed by over 100 different nationalities of airline customers between August 2017 and February 2018.
It covering 550 airports worldwide and evaluating traveller experiences across different airport services.
These included everything from check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, security and immigration through to departure at the gate.
Other UK airports that featured on the list included London Stansted, East Midlands and Luton airports, which placed at fifth, seventh and eighth place in the “Best low-cost airline terminals”
category.
London City also got two mentions – placing fourth in the “Best regional airports” category and as the winner of the “Best airport under 5 million passengers” category.
No airport can hold a torch to Changi though – which has won the “Best Airport” award nine times overall now and six years consecutively.
With a butterfly garden, rooftop swimming pool and a free 24-hour cinema, Singapore’s Changi is more akin to a luxury resort than an airport.
Terminal 1 boasts a rooftop swimming pool and Jacuzzi from which weary travellers can watch planes taking off.
There is also a relaxing cactus garden featuring 40 species, a cocktail bar and a water lily garden.
A beautiful Kinetic Rain installation takes pride of place in the terminal and features 1,216 polished copper raindrops.
In Terminal 2 travellers can pass the time before boarding by gazing at the collection of rare orchids, 500 bright yellow sunflowers and the decorative mosaic sculptures.
There is also an Entertainment Deck that houses a free 24-hour cinema and Xbox 360s.
Meanwhile, in Terminal 3 there is a beautiful butterfly garden, which boasts 1,000 critters, a six-metre waterfall and a Koi Carp pond.
All travellers enjoy free wifi and those waiting for a connecting flight can book onto a free city tour.
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Lee Seow Hiang, CEO of Changi Airport Group, said: “We are extremely honoured to be named Skytrax’s World Best Airport for the sixth consecutive year.
“It is a significant achievement for Changi Airport and spurs us to continue to deliver the best passenger experience for all who travel through Changi Airport.
“Last year, we successfully opened Terminal 4, and upgraded parts of Terminal 1.”