The world's best airports receive the prestigious Skytrax World Airport Awards every year. It is awarded based on the results of a global customer satisfaction survey on airport key performance indicators - from check-in, transfers and shopping, to security measures and a list of amenities.
The survey is conducted as an independent survey, with no entry fees or charges at any airport. In 2017, it covered 550 airports around the world, and Skytrax experts studied over 13 million airline customer profiles.
This is how it looks ten of the best international airports in 2018.
10. Frankfurt Airport, Germany
It is the largest airport in Germany and the third largest in Europe. Frankfurt Airport is directly connected to the European high-speed network of German railways and is home to the Deutsche Bahn station.
The interior of the airport is not distinguished by any special delights, the emphasis is on the convenience of passengers' movement. It is difficult to get lost in the building, despite its huge size, thanks to the large blue signs.
The airport has a children's room, playgrounds, shops and cafes, as well as an observation deck from which you can admire the arriving and departing planes.
9. Zurich Airport, Switzerland
It is the largest international airport in Switzerland and the main hub of the largest Swiss airline - SWISS.
This cozy, clean building has the same spirit of calm confidence and serenity that Switzerland is famous for. It has the luxury "for show" characteristic of Hamad Airport (the second line of the top 10 best airports in the world). But there are a lot of beautiful golden lighting, a large number of shops (mostly expensive brands), and many small cafes with very tasty food and drinks. For the convenience of tourists at the airport, there are signs and an electronic board with flight data everywhere.
8. London Heathrow Airport, UK
Heathrow Airport is the busiest airport in the UK. It was once considered the world's busiest airport for international passengers, but recently ceded this title to Dubai Airport. On average, Heathrow is visited by 73 million travelers each year. Flights here the best airlines in Russia... In 2018, their number will be increased.
For safety reasons, when passing from terminal to terminal, all passengers are checked with a metal detector. This creates additional queues, but London airport is one of the safest on Earth.
In 2018, Heathrow's newest terminal 2, opened in June 2014, was voted the best airport terminal in the world. And the third terminal houses the world's best airport cocktail bar, Gray Goose Loft. The ingredients for the cocktails are purchased from the most renowned alcohol companies.
7. Nagoya Airport, Japan
Chubu International Airport - one of the best airports of 2018 - is located on an artificial island in the middle of Ise Bay, near the city of Nagoya.It receives about 10 million passengers annually. On its territory there is a four-story shopping center Skytown, which has become the hallmark of the airport. The center is divided into two "streets" - Renga-Dori with cafeterias, boutiques, bank branches and shops, and Totin-Yokote with shops selling national Japanese goods.
Another feature of Chubu is the Sky deck, from which you can watch ships sail to the port of Nagoya, and how planes take off and land.
6. Munich Airport, Germany
Franz Josef Strauss Airport is the second busiest airport in Germany and handles 38 million people annually. It is located northeast of Munich city center and consists of 2 terminals. The Kempinski hotel is located between them.
The airport is home to the AirbraU brewery, over 150 retail stores and approximately 50 places to drink and eat. Its pride is the park for guests, where there is an exhibition dedicated to the Munich air hub, a playground and you can admire historic airplanes.
Munich Airport named by Skytrax as the Best Airport in Europe for 2018
5. Hamad Airport, Qatar
Hamad International Airport is located in the capital of Qatar, Doha. It is the most architecturally significant as well as the most luxurious terminal complex in the world. The airport building houses many duty free shops, restaurants, as well as three mosques and one huge yellow bear, which has become the symbol of this air harbor.
Unusual play areas for children, work areas with 27-inch iMacs for adults who need to work at the computer, quiet lounges, a swimming pool and huge business lounges make Hamad Airport feel like a five-star hotel. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout its territory.
Not surprisingly, Hamad International Airport is the best airport in the Middle East in 2018 by Skytrax.
4. Hong Kong airport
Hong Kong International Airport serves over 100 airlines with approximately 180 destinations worldwide, including 44 destinations on the Chinese mainland. Due to the huge scale of the airport, there is no crowding in it, the passenger traffic moves quickly and without congestion.
For the construction of the airport, Chek Lapkok Island was combined with Lamchhau Island to create a large and flat area of 12.48 km². Today Chek Lap Kok Airport is one of the largest airports in the world.
This is a former, multiple winner of the "Airport of the Year" - World Airport Awards.
3. Tokyo Haneda Airport, Japan
With both domestic and international terminals, Tokyo Haneda International Airport plays a very important role in promoting the development of Japan as a tourism-oriented country.
Tokyo Airport was named the cleanest airport in the world and the best international airport in the world in 2018.
2. Seoul Airport, South Korea
Incheon International Airport is in second place in the world ranking of airports. It is the largest South Korean airport and one of the busiest air harbors in the world. The comfort of its visitors is thought out down to the smallest detail. For example, there are drinking fountains, latrines and changing rooms in the corridors. There is free Wi-Fi throughout the airport. There are play areas for children, and master classes for adults (for example, on the creation of Korean masks).
On the top floor of the airport, there are showers and sun loungers where you can relax while waiting for your flight.
And in the departure area there are numerous boutiques and shops where you can wander for hours.
1. Singapore airport
Singapore Changi Airport won the title of World's Best Airport for the sixth time. This is an unprecedented achievement and shows how much time, money and effort Singapore has invested in building its air hub.
Other rivals boast beauty and cleanliness as well, but Changi won the top prize for combining impressive facilities with airport efficiency.Passengers can watch the best blockbusters of 2018 in one of the two 24-hour cinemas at the airport, take a dip in the rooftop pool, warm up in the gym, or indulge in relaxation in one of five botanical gardens.
Like the rest of Singapore, Changi is a mix of business and pleasure. Who said staying at the airport shouldn't be fun?
In 2017, 62.2 million passengers passed through Changi, making more than 373,000 landings and take-offs. This means that an aircraft was landing or taking off at the airport every 85 seconds, 24 hours a day.
In 2019, the airport will host a new multifunctional complex, Jewel Changi Airport, which will house 300 restaurants and retail space, as well as the country's largest indoor garden.