Skytrax surveys travellers from around the globe every year to compile its list of the best airports in the world
Tokyo Haneda Airport in Japan has been ranked as the cleanest airport globally for the ninth consecutive year. It leads the way not just globally but in Japan too, which boasts four airports within the top ten cleanest worldwide.
Skytrax surveys travellers from around the globe every year to compile its list of the best airports in the world. It lauded the cleanliness of the floors, seating, public areas and toilet facilities. In a post-Covid world, that’s extremely important, the organisation says.
“Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the standards of airport cleanliness have become much more important to customers. Airports maintaining these highest standards are well featured in the best airport cleanliness results,” Skytrax says.
According to the global rating by the London-based consulting organisation specialising in airline analysis Skytrax, in the world’s top 10 cleanest airports, only one hub in Europe features on the list. In fact, the ranking is almost exclusively made up of airports in Asia.
Outside of Japan, but still firmly within Asia, ranked in second place is South Korea’s Seoul Incheon Airport. The airport, which opened in March 29, 2001, is the main international airport serving Seoul, the capital of South Korea. Time and again, it is also one of the largest and busiest airports in the world.
Singapore Changi Airport rounds off the third position on the list. One of the world’s busiest airports, Changi Airport also offers complimentary 2- to 3-hour tours to visitors to magnificent locations. Further, it also hosts the world’s largest slide than any other airport.
The fourth spot is taken up by Hamad International Airport in Qatar, which has also been ranked as this year’s World’s Best Airport 2024 by Skytrax. Hamad International Airport, which was inaugurated in 2014 and is thus relatively new, has served about 45 million passengers last year, reflecting a 31 pc increase year on year. Passenger volumes continued to climb in 2023, surpassing even the momentum established during the historic FIFA World Cup.
Besides Haneda, Chubu Centrair International Airport Chubu Centrair International Airport, Narita International Airport and Kansai International Airport in Japan take up the fifth, sixth and seventh spots respectively.
Although Haneda Airport is much closer to downtown Tokyo and easier to reach, Narita Airport is larger and offers more variety in flight options. In comparison, Haneda Airport has more lounges and is better for first-class passengers.
Hong Kong International Airport is ranked eighth in the list, that served 40 million passengers in 2023, up by almost 600 pc compared to a low base in 2022.
It is followed by Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, which has 2 runways, 116 aircraft parking positions, and a passenger terminal area that receives more than 48 million passengers, with 265,625 domestic and foreign flights.
Rounding up the list was only non-Asian airport, Zurich Airport, the largest international airport of Switzerland. In 2023, 28.9 million passengers flew through Zurich Airport, amounting to 92 pc compared to 2019 and an increase of 28 pc compared to previous year.
Skytrax’s awards also named the cleanest airport in each region, where Haneda topped in Asia and Zurich in Europe. In Africa, Cape Town took the top spot, Brisbane won for the Australia/Pacific region and Shanghai Hongqiao took the win for China. Azerbaijan’s Baku won in Central Asia and Bangalore was Skytrax’s pick for India and South Asia.
