Singapore’s Changi International Airport is a world-famous structure in its own right. Not only is it one of the most futuristic airports in the world, but it is also home to plenty of unique sights and experiences. This makes it a memorable travel destination in and of itself.
Beyond its glitzy appearance, Changi Airport also has a reputation for being one of the best airports in the world. In fact, since 2013, this international hub has claimed the title of “World’s Best Airport” for eight years in a row!
However, in the 2021 World’s Best Airports ranking, released just a few days ago by Skytrax, Singapore has finally slid down the table. It wasn’t an alarming decline though. It simply moved from first place to third.
The airport that lands itself the title of “World’s Best Airport” is the 2nd runner up from last year: Qatar’s Hamad International Airport. Of course, the rankings this year looked on a unique new set of criteria, thanks to the ongoing pandemic. This includes how airports responded to the unprecedented effect of COVID-19.
Some of the main factors that catapulted Hamad International Airport to the top were its crisis preparation, safety measures, and contingency plans in the face of reduced travel traffic. According to Skytrax, the list of the World’s 10 Best Airport’s for 2021 is as follows:
1. Hamad International Airport (Qatar)
2. Tokyo Haneda Airport (Japan)
3. Changi Airport (Singapore)
4. Incheon International Airport (S. Korea)
5. Tokyo Narita Airport (Japan)
6. Munich International Airport (Germany)
7. Zurich International Airport (Switzerland)
8. London Heathrow (United Kingdom)
9. Kansai International Airport (Japan)
10. Hong Kong International Airport
Even though our very own KLIA didn’t make the top ten, Malaysia’s main international hub made great strides in improvement! Last year, we were ranked the 63rd best in the world. In 2021, we climbed all the way to 55! Kudos!
After all that, I realise I have only one wish right now. Hopefully, in the not-so-distant future, I’ll be able to visit one, or two, or even ALL of these airports. If you know what I mean, you know how I feel!
Also read: SOP Relaxation: Things Fully Vaccinated Malaysians Need to Know
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