2011 Best Airports
For
business class travelers, the plane isn’t everything. Travel starts in the hotel room and finishes at home, or vice versa, with lots of time spent at the airport in between. Most regular business travelers know how dire it can be to sit in a tiny airport in a small city with no amenities or entertainments, or even basic comfortable seats on which to while your time away waiting for the next flight.
Skytrax, a London-based airline research company, doles out the
World Airport Awards each year. Awards are given based on a variety of factors, including passenger responses to questions about airport services and products.
5. Beijing Capital International Airport
Creeping up the ranks since major expansions in 2007-08,
Beijing Capital International Airport is second only to Atlanta Hartford as the busiest airport in the world. The airport has three terminals, including the shiny new Terminal 3, which is home to a huge food court known as the “Global Kitchen”. It boasts 72 international restaurants. There are also massive shopping areas in all of the terminals and an intra-terminal train that transports passengers between them.
4. Munich Airport
Lufthansa‘s home airport is also one of the largest airports in all of Europe. The two terminals at
Munich Airport are open all day, everyday and serviced around 34 million passengers in 2010. Terminal 1 is the older of the two, having opened in 1992, while newer Terminal 3 is where you’ll fly through on Lufthansa and other Star Alliance airlines.
The Munich Airport Centre is a huge, semi open-air arcade that connects the two terminals and serves as the main shopping and entertainment center. Additionally, the airport houses conference and business facilities, a spa, gaming centers, sleeping pods and of course lots of shopping and dining.
3. Incheon International Airport
South Korea’s main airport is like a hub of entertainment and excitement all under one roof. Modern and sleek, the airport houses its amenities as if in secret, behind doors and shiny floors. Technically located in Incheon, the airport serves
Seouland the rest of South Korea.
Among the amenities are a spa, sleeping rooms, a full golf course, an ice skating rink, indoor gardens and a branch of the Museum of Korean Culture, all of which are accessible without ever leaving the airport!
2. Singapore Changi Airport
Changi Airport in
Singapore is consistently ranked one of the top airports in the world and has occupied the number one spot more than once. Because it is such an important transit hub, Changi has done a lot to make its transferring passengers comfortable and entertained. And in the grand spirit of Singapore, Changi has a decidedly amusement park feel to it.
In addition to the usual amenities like restaurants, lounges, prayer rooms and bars, Changi has gone one step further with its four terminals. Gardens are a main feature, providing interior and exterior green spaces for passengers to enjoy without leaving the airport. There is even a nature trail leading through the gardens. If you have more than 5 hours to layover, you can sign up for an approved sightseeing tour of Singapore, without needing to pass customs and immigration. There are also fitness centers, rest areas, a music bar and a pool!
1. Hong Kong International Airport
Topping the list is the world’s best airport in 2011,
Hong Kong International Airport. One of the busiest airports in the world, Hong Kong is also located less than 5 flying hours from
half of the world’s population, making it perhaps the most convenient international hub in the world, too. Amenities abound in Hong Kong’s two terminals, which are both covered in free wifi. Terminal 1 is stocked with tons of designer shopping, while Terminal 2 is the place for books, luggage and toys. Both terminals are outfitted with a huge selection of restaurants, some fast food and other sit-down, and there are smoking stands in the terminals, also.
Entertainment-wise, Hong Kong Airport really stacks up. It has a 4-D theater, a flight simulator experience, an “Asia Hollywood” entertainment center, a sports simulator, a Sony Playstation Gateway and a 9-hole golf course. There are also several cultural exhibitions scattered throughout both terminals.
