Singapore`s Changi Airport best in the world
Baku, April 11 (AZERTAC). Singapore`s Changi Airport has been crowned the best in the world for the fourth time in 14 years at the prestigious World Airport Awards in Geneva. The Southeast Asian hub beat off competition from Incheon Airport in South Korea and Amsterdam Schiphol in the Netherlands, who came in second and third respectively.
The award was based on surveys conducted by international travel research and consultancy group Skytrax, who polled 12.1 million passengers over a nine-month period. A total of 39 services and products -- including check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, security and immigration -- were examined at 395 airports across the world.
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"In winning this prestigious accolade, Singapore Changi Airport cements its place as one of the world`s favorite airports," said Edward Plaisted, chairman of Skytrax.
A bustling aviation link between east and west -- catering for more than 52 million passengers and 1.81 million tons of cargo in 2012 -- Changi has gained a reputation for its attentive passenger experience and abundant entertainment services.
The airport offers free city tours to all travelers on a stopover of five hours or more and plays host to facilities such as an on-site swimming pool, butterfly garden, nature trail and cinemas.
Changi was also one of the first airports to introduce free WiFi areas and previously scooped the Skytrax best airport award in 2000 before going on to win again in 2006 and 2010.
In an interview for CNN`s monthly feature show The Gateway, Changi`s executive vice president for airport management, Tan Lye Teck said: "It`s always heart-warming to know there are people who show appreciation for things we do."
"We will continue essentially what we`ve always been trying to do (which is put the) passenger, the user, the customer ... at the center of everything," he added.
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Other destinations to highly in the best airport category this year include Hong Kong International and Beijing Capital International, carrying on a tradition of strong Asian performance at the awards.
All in all, five out of the top ten airports were based in East Asian cities.
Hong Kong has previously claimed the best airport gong eight times, Incheon twice and Singapore Changi four times.
Only one non-Asian airport has ever won the sought-after prize, Amsterdam Schiphol in 1999, the award`s inaugural year.
Schipol was named the best European airport for 2013 while the honor for best North American destination went to Vancouver International Airport in Canada.
Cape Town International, Lima Jorge Chavez International, Panama Tocumen and Abu Dhabi International took home the regional prizes for Africa, South America, Central America and the Middle East respectively.
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