The World Airport Awards are based on the responses from 8.6 million airline passengers in 2008-09, covering more than 190 airports worldwide. The survey evaluates travellers' experiences across 39 different airport service and product factors.
Check out the world's top 10 airports...
1. Incheon International Airport
The Incheon International Airport has also been ranked as Asia's best airport. It is the world's No.1 in terms of security processing and terminal cleanliness.
One of the busiest airports in the world, the Incheon Airport has plans to build an 'air city', with apartments, shops, recreational facilities and businesses. The 'air city' and the airport terminal will be connected by a new magnetic levitation train system. The air city project is likely to be completed in 2020.
Built with an investment of $5 billion, the airport became operational in March 2001.
The world's top 10 airports
Photographs: Courtesy, Hong Kong International Airport.
Hong Kong's reign as the world's best airport has come to an end. Ranked second, it is voted for being the world's easiest international transit and offers the best airport dining experience. In 2008, more than 48.6 million passengers used the airport.
Opened in July 1998, 85 airlines operate flights to around 150 destinations worldwide. HKIA also operates one of the world's largest passenger terminal buildings. The airport designed to offer maximum convenience to passengers. Moving walkways and the automated people mover allow easy movement throughout the building.
The airport has a people mover system to ferry people from the check-in area to the gates. The service is free for all passengers and crew. Besides this, airport offers great facilities for entertainment, dining and shopping.
Estimated Investment: HK$50 bn
The world's top 10 airports
Photographs: Courtesy, Changi International Airport.
Changi International Airport has been ranked as the world's third best airport. It also has the world's best leisure amenities. With 80 airlines serving more than 180 cities in over 50 countries, Changi Airport has established itself as a major aviation hub in the Asia Pacific region.
Changi Airport now has an annual handling capacity of more than 70 million passengers. The airport boasts of themed gardens ranging from tranquil indoor ponds to outdoor sunny gardens.
Besides, this it offers avenues for relaxation, entertainment shopping and automated people mover system. It started operations in July 1981.
The world's top 10 airports
Photographs: Courtesy, Zurich International Airport.
Voted as the best airport in Europe, Zurich Airport ranks 4th worldwide. The airport has an automated underground train to move passengers between the existing terminal complex and the new terminal.
The airport has banks, a post office and wireless Internet hotspots at several locations throughout the terminal. The airport also has restaurants, coffee shops, and duty-free shopping. Zurich Airport has the second biggest shopping centre in Switzerland.
It also has a medical and dental centre, pharmacies, prayer rooms and nurseries. Zurich Airport handled 22.1 million passengers in 2008.
Investment: CHF 2.4 billion
The world's top 10 airports
Photographs: Courtesy, Munich International Airport.
Munich has maintained the 5th rank this year. It was named the 2nd best airport in Europe.
Munich Airport is the second busiest airport in Germany in terms of passenger traffic (34.73 million in 2008) after Frankfurt International Airport. The airport started operations on 17 May 1992.
Investment: $92 million
The world's top 10 airports
Photographs: Reuters
Kansai International Airport was ranked at the 6th position last year as well. Kansai has the world's cleanest airport washrooms.
Kansai is Japan's second most important international airport. Located on a man made island about 50 km south of Osaka, Kansai Airport was opened in 1994.
Estimated investment: $13 billion
The world's top 10 airports
Photographs: Courtesy, Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Kuala Lumpur International Airport has slipped from from 4th to 7th in 2009. It offers the world's best immigration service. KLIA now has more than 50 airlines, offering connectivity to more than 90 destinations worldwide. The airport celebrated its 11th anniversary on June 30
It handled a total of 27.5 million passengers in 2008, an increase of 4.1 per cent from the year 2007. The airport was built at a cost of about $3.5 billion.
The world's top 10 airports
8. Amsterdam International Airport
Also known as Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam International airport is ranked as the world's 8th best airport. The airport opened on 16 September 1916 as a small military airbase.
Over the years it expanded its facilities. It now ranks as the world's 3rd largest in terms of international passenger traffic and world's 14th busiest by overall passenger volume.
The airport has a large rooftop viewing area. Huge shopping areas are another attraction. The See Buy Fly shopping centre has been named the world's best airport shopping centre by 'The Business Traveller'.
Investment: Euro 340 million
The world's top 10 airports
Central Japan International Airport is Japan's third international airport after Tokyo's Narita Airport and Osaka's Kansai Airport.
It is also known as Chubu Airport. Constructed on a man made island in the Bay of Ise, the airport was opened in February 2005.
Investment: $7 billion
The world's top 10 airports
Auckland International Airport Limited (Auckland Airport) was established in 1988. Today, over 70 per cent of visitors enter or leave New Zealand via Auckland Airport, which handles over 13 million passengers a year.
More than 30 international airlines fly to Auckland Airport. The airport hopes to see 24 million passengers a year by 2025.
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