Incheon named world's best airport

Emily Pacey

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Asian airports sweep the board at the Airport Service Excellence Awards, jointly organised by ACI and IATA

Seoul Incheon International has won the title of best airport worldwide in the Airport Service Excellence Awards, which are jointly administered by Airports Council International (ACI) and the International Airport Transport Association (IATA).
 
Hong Kong International and Singapore Changi were jointly named second-best airport, while Kuala Lumpur International won third place, making it a good night for Asian airports at an awards ceremony held at this year's ACI Airport Service Quality Conference in Abu Dhabi.
 
Incheon and Changi also came first and third respectively in the most improved airport category, in which Vancouver International won second place. The two Asian airports also came first and second respectively in the best airport in the Asia/Pacific region. Changi shared the honour of second place with Hong Kong, while Kuala Lumpur came third. 
 
In Europe, Brussels Zaventem and Copenhagen Kastrup were jointly named best regional airport, while Zürich was named in second place. Helsinki Vantaa came third.
 
Dubai International won the award for best airport in the Middle East and Africa region, beating South African airports Cape Town and Durban.
 
In the Americas, Halifax International was named best regional airport, while Ottawa took second place and Denver third.
 
The results for the awards were derived from passenger surveys conducted at 66 airports worldwide in 2005. According to ACI, feedback from the surveys emphasised the importance of staff courtesy, airport cleanliness, ground transportation and a range of services including shopping and dining.
 
ACI director general Bob Aaronson said: "The true winners are the airport customers who are beneficiaries of the airports' drive to make sure that their facilities and services meet the highest standards of excellence."