Ranked: 100 best airports in the world

A walkway surrounded by trees inside Inside Doha airport – the best in the world

The best airports in the world have been named in the latest World Airport Awards. We take a look at the results

The best airport in the world is Doha’s Hamad International Airport in Qatar. The 2023 champion and 12-time previous winner, Singapore Changi Airport – famed for The Jewel – a glass circular building with 280 restaurants and stores and a multi-story circular indoor waterfall surrounded by terraced gardens – came second in the global ranking but was still named the best airport in Asia.

Rounding out the top five were Seoul Incheon International Airport, the largest airport in South Korea and one of the world’s busiest airports; Tokyo Haneda International Airport, Japan’s busiest airport just 30 minutes from central Tokyo; and Tokyo Narita Airport, an international airport serving the greater Tokyo area in Japan.

The Rain Vortex water feature inside Singapore airport — Alexander Ortega/Shutterstock Singapore’s Changi Airport has been knocked off the top spot

The World Airport Awards began in 1999 when Skytrax launched its first global airport customer satisfaction survey. The awards, which assess customer service and facilities across 597 airports with input from over 100 nationalities of airport customers, are widely regarded as the quality benchmark for the airport industry.

The survey’s methodology includes evaluating traveller experiences across 44 key indicators, including the check-in experience, queuing times, ease of transfer, shopping options, security and safety standards and baggage delivery times among other passenger facilities and services.

10 best airports in the world

Doha Hamad
Singapore Changi
Seoul Incheon
Tokyo Haneda
Tokyo Narita
Paris CDG
Dubai
Munich
Zurich
Istanbul

What makes Doha the world’s best airport?

This is the second time that Hamad International Airport – the international airport for Doha, the capital city of Qatar – has taken the top spot after previously ranking number one in 2021 when it was recognised for its outstanding facilities, comfort, cleanliness, shopping, food and beverage options, staff service and security/immigration.

Sorbis/Shutterstock The Orchard at Doha’s Hamad International Airport

This year, the airport has won global recognition for its tropical gardens, The Orchard, which opened in 2023. The sprawling indoor gardens occupy 6,000 square meters and feature over 300 trees and 25,000 plants sourced from around the globe.

Hamad International Airport, which is a hub for national airline Qatar Airways, serves over 45 million passengers – a 31% increase compared to the previous year.

The airport also won praise for its array of luxury shopping and dining experiences. As such, it also won the award for the World’s Best Airport Shopping plus it was named the Best Airport in the Middle East for the 10th year in a row.

Regional top performers

Other highlights from the report include a host of Japanese airports. Tokyo Narita Airport was recognised for its customer service and named the World’s Best Airport Staff and Best Airport Staff in Asia. New Chitose Airport was voted the World’s Most Improved Airport while Chubu Centrair International Airport in Nagoya won the World’s Best Regional Airport award. Finally, Kansai International Airport was recognised for the World’s Best Airport Baggage Delivery.

Terminal building at sunset with a mountain in the background — Hit1912/Shutterstock Japan’s Tokyo Haneda International Airport is one of the best airports in the world

In Italy, Rome Fiumicino Airport picked up the award for the World’s Best Airport Security Processing, while across the pond in New York, Terminal A, Newark Liberty Airport was crowned the World’s Best New Airport Terminal.

In France, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport was praised for its Terminal 3 facility which was anointed the World’s Best Low-Cost Terminal. Paris Charles de Gaulle was also named Best Airport in Europe for a second successive year. London Heathrow in the UK was ranked 21st, London Gatwick 48th and London City 81st.

Turkey’s Istanbul Airport was voted the World’s Best Airport Dining Experience and the Best Airport in Southern Europe; Finland’s Helsinki Vantaa Airport was named the Best Airport in Northern Europe; and Budapest Airport in Hungary was once again named the Best Airport in Eastern Europe.

Seoul's terminal building at sunset surrounded by greenery — Jinny Jin/Shutterstock Seoul Incheon International Airport

Cape Town Airport was named the Best Airport in Africa. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport won the award for Best Airport in China and Delhi International Airport is the Best Airport in India and South Asia.

Melbourne Airport was named the Best Airport in Australia and the Pacific for the second successive year. Bogota El Dorado Airport, Colombia, won Best Airport in South America and Vancouver International Airport, Canada, the Best Airport in North America.