[ad_1]
(CNN) – While most of us long for the days when we can really fly in and out of them again, the world’s top aviation hubs for 2020 have been revealed at the annual Skytrax World Airport Awards.
And in what will be a surprise to practically no one, Singapore’s Changi Airport has been crowned “Best Airport in the World” for the eighth consecutive year.
Tokyo Haneda Airport ranked second and Doha Hamad International Airport ranked number three.
The awards, voted on by customers in a global airport customer satisfaction survey, were originally scheduled for April 1 at the Passenger Terminal Expo in Paris, which was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Instead, the 2020 award announcements were made on May 10 through a virtual ceremony that took place live on YouTube.
“After deferring the award announcements for almost six weeks, we felt it was right to try to cheer on the airport industry in these difficult times,” Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, said in a statement.
As in 2019, East Asia dominated this year’s World Airport Awards, with seven of the top 10 airports by 2020 in the region, including four in Japan.
The world’s top 10 airports of 2020
1. Singapore Changi Airport
2. Tokyo Haneda Airport
3. Hamad International Airport (Doha, Qatar)
4. Incheon International Airport (South Korea)
5. Munich Airport (Germany)
6. Hong Kong International Airport
7. Narita International Airport (Tokyo)
8. Chūbu Centrair International Airport (Nagoya, Japan)
9. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
10. Kansai International Airport (Osaka, Japan)
According to Skytrax, customers from more than 100 different countries participated in the survey, which was conducted between September 2019 and February 2020 and covers 550 airports.
With a spectacular glass and steel framed donut-shaped exterior, the 135,700-square-meter (about 1.46 million-square-foot) addition was designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie. Jewel’s star attraction is the 40-meter-high (about 130-foot) HSBC Rain Vortex, which cascades through a huge oculus in the middle and is listed as the tallest indoor waterfall in the world.
“Changi Airport is proud to receive this statement from our travelers, made possible by the strong support of our airport partners,” said Lee Seow Hiang, CEO of Changi Airport Group in a prerecorded clip played during the online ceremony.
“This has been a challenging year for all of us. Like everyone else, here at Changi, we continue to do our best to safeguard and protect the health of our travelers, our visitors, and our airport workers. We wish everyone in the community of international aviation well. Let’s hope for better times and soon. ”
Tokyo’s Haneda is the fifth busiest airport in the world. However, it delivered 85.6% of flights on time in 2018, making it the world’s most punctual mega airport.
Japan dominates multiple categories
Also in Japan, Osaka Kansai International Airport was awarded the “World’s Best Airport Staff Service”, Chūbu Centrair International Airport in Nagoya was awarded the “World’s Best Regional Airport” and Tokyo Narita International Airport was awarded as “The Best Airport Restaurant in the World”.
Moving to South Korea, the T2 of Incheon International Airport won the “Best Airport Terminal in the World” award. Singapore’s Crown Plaza Changi Airport was again awarded the “World’s Best Airport Hotel” award and Hong Kong International Airport won the “World’s Best Airport Immigration” award.
Outside Asia, the “World’s Most Improved Airport” award went to Paris Orly Airport, while London Heathrow Airport was awarded “World’s Best Shopping Airport” and Houston Airports won the award ” Best airport website and digital services. “
