These are the world’s best airports for 2018

With sunflower and butterfly gardens, rooftop swimming pool, free foot massages, and a newly introduced fully automated check-in and boarding process, Singapore’s Changi Airport has nabbed the title of world’s best airport for the sixth year in a row.

The six-year winning streak marks a first for the Skytrax World Airport Awards, and cements the reputation of Changi Airport as the gold standard in airport design and travel experience.

According to the ranking, the best airport experiences are mostly found in Asia, as half of the top 10-ranked airports are from the East.

Other notable performers include Japan, which landed two spots on the top 10 list, as did Germany.

Rounding out the podium are Incheon International Airport in South Korea, and Tokyo International Airport Haneda.

The highest ranked airport from North America is Vancouver International Airport, which placed 14th on the list.

A passenger checks-in his luggage using an automated booth at the newly opened Changi International Airport’s Terminal 4 in Singapore

Last year, Changi Airport widened the gap with other airport hubs with the opening of a new state-of-the-art-terminal featuring facial recognition technology that fast-tracks the check-in and boarding process for Singaporean citizens and permanent residents.

The terminal also features art installations designed specifically to reduce travel stress: a moving sculpture of orchid petals suspended from the ceiling, for example, moves elegantly to a soundtrack of classical music, and is meant to calm and mesmerize travelers.

A boulevard of 160 ficus trees brings nature indoors, while high ceilings and skylights usher in as much natural daylight as possible.

The 2018 Skytrax World Airport Awards are based on 13.73 million airport survey questionnaires completed by airline customers representing more than 100 different nationalities. The survey covered 550 airports around the world and asked respondents to evaluate their experience from check-in to boarding.

Here are the world’s top 10 airports of 2018:

1. Singapore Changi
2. Incheon
3. Tokyo Haneda
4. Hong Kong
5. Doha Hamad
6. Munich
7. Centrair Nagoya
8. London Heathrow
9. Zurich
10. Frankfurt

In other categories, Tokyo Haneda was named world’s cleanest airport; London Heathrow’s Terminal 2 the best airport terminal; Incheon the best airport staff; and Hong Kong the best airport for dining.

For the full results visit World Airport Awards.

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