Singapore Changi Airport is the world's Best Airport at 2010 World Airport Awards

LONDON - 23rd March 2010  

The Skytrax World Airport Awards were announced this evening at the first ever live ceremony in Brussels, Belgium, as part of the Passenger Terminal Expo. Attended by top management from airports around the world, 30 different awards were presented by the Chairman of Skytrax, Mr Edward Plaisted.

The top title as World's Best Airport went to Singapore Changi Airport, named Airport of the Year 2010, also taking the titles for Best Airport Leisure Amenities and Best Airport Asia.

Commenting on their success, Changi Airport Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Lee Seow Hiang, CEO of Changi Airport group said “Changi’s success would not be possible without the affirmation, encouragement and feedback that we have received from our stakeholders, including the millions of passengers and visitors we serve every year. This has motivated us to continue to improve and innovate. We are honoured to receive the Skytrax World's Best Airport award and thank everyone for their vote of confidence. In an ever-competitive operating landscape, this is also a testament to the hard work and tireless efforts of all airport staff and partners in the Changi community to deliver the Changi Experience. I want to thank them too for their contributions.”

"This was yet again an extremely competitive survey, and with over 9.8 million completed survey interviews, it was a very close finish with Singapore Changi edging ahead from Incheon International Airport, to take the 2010 title as World's Best Airport" said Edward Plaisted.

Across the different results announced, Munich Airport continued its success both in taking the title as Europe's Best Airport and also moving up into 4th position in the global airport rankings. Another German Airport, Berlin-Schonefeld was the winner of the Best Airport for Low-Cost Airlines.

Cape Town International Airport was a double winner collecting the Best Airport Africa title as well as walking off with the Airport Staff Service Excellence Award for Africa. Vancouver Airport was back to winning ways in taking the title as Best Airport North America, and being ranked 11th in the world. Lima Jorge Chavez Airport had a repeat success winning the Best Airport South America Title.

Incheon International Airport, ranked No 2 in the world won awards as Best International Transit Airport and also for having the Best Staff Service Excellence across Asian Airports. Kuala Lumpur improved its position, ranking 5th in the world as well as being named Best Airport Immigration Service and also collecting a Staff Service Excellence Award.

Auckland Airport continues on an upward trend with a global No 9 ranking, also receiving 2 awards, named as Best Airport Australia / Pacific and walking away with a coveted Staff Service Excellence Award. One of the key improvers for 2010 is Beijing Capital International Airport, moving into the world's top 10 for the 1st time and receiving Best Airport China Award and also winning the Best Airport Security Processing title. Hyderabad Ragiv Gandhi Airport showed off its new standards by collecting the award for Best Airport India.

In Europe, success was enjoyed by London Heathrow Airport winner of Best Airport Shopping Award, Amsterdam Schipol named Best Airport Western Europe, Istanbul Ataturk Airport winner of Best Airport Southern Europe, Helsinki Vantaa Airport winning Best Airport Northern Europe. Copenhagen Airport was honoured by receiving the Europe Airports Staff Service Excellence Award while Zurich Airport picked up 2 awards, Best Airport Terminal Cleanliness and Best Baggage Delivery.

Abu Dhabi International Airport scored a major success with the Most Improved Airport title, after jumping 47 positions in the rankings to secure the world’s No 26 Rating.

The world's top 25 rankings in the World Airport Awards for 2010:

1 Singapore
2 Seoul Incheon
3 Hong Kong
4 Munich
5 Kuala Lumpur
6 Zurich
7 Amsterdam
8 Beijing
9 Auckland
10 Bangkok
11 Vancouver
12 Kansai
13 Centrair Nagoya
14 Helsinki
15 Copenhagen
16 Frankfurt Main
17 Tokyo Narita
18 Brisbane
19 Cape Town
20 San Francisco
21 London Heathrow
22 Istanbul

All Press / Media enquiries should be directed to:

Mr Peter Miller
Marketing Director
SKYTRAX RESEARCH
E-mail: miller@airlinequality.com

Best Airport and Airport Hotel winners include

King Shaka International Airport, Abu Dhabi International Airport, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Auckland International Airport, Bangalore International Airport, Barcelona Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport, Cape Town International Airport, Central Japan International Airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Copenhagen Airport, Doha International Airport, Dubai International Airport, Düsseldorf International Airport, Gold Coast Airport, Guayaquil Airport, Haikou Meilan International Airport, Hamburg Airport, Hong Kong International Airport, Hotel Sofitel London Heathrow, Incheon International Airport, InterContinental Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport, Jorge Chávez International Airport, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, London Heathrow Airport, London Stansted Airport, Moscow Domodedovo Airport, Munich Airport, OR Tambo International Airport, Panama Tocumen Airport, Regal Airport Hotel, Sao Paulo Airport Marriott Hotel, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, Singapore Changi Airport, Stamford Plaza Sydney Airport Hotel, Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, The Fairmont Vancouver Airport, Vancouver International Airport, Zurich Airport