Skytrax, which measures passenger satisfaction (or not) with customer service and facilities at airports around the world, has released its 2022 list, with few surprises; the top three are still there in the same order (Doha Hamad, Tokyo Haneda and Singapore Changi).
In fact, eight of the top 10 in the survey, which has been issued every year since 1999, were in last year’s as well. Only two new airports broke into the top 10: Paris CDG moved up from 15 to 6 and Istanbul from 17 to 8. They replaced London Heathrow, which slipped from 8 to 13 and Hong Kong, which plunged from 10 to 20.
Only three U.S. airports made the top 50, with Houston Hobby at 33, Houston George Bush at 36 and Cincinnati at 38. Canada’s topper was Toronto at 43.
Unlike surveys that rate numbers of flights, connections, and other issues, Skytrax relies entirely on passenger responses to its surveys. This year’s surveys, taken at 500 airports, were done between September 2021 and May 2022.
Image: 2022 winner Doha Hamad International Airport
Some of these awards are really bizarre. I mean, Hamad’s a decent enough airport but best in the world? I don’t think so.
I’m always a little suspicious of ratings, especially for places no one would choose to go if it weren’t for getting on or off a plane, but at least Skytrax makes its criteria visible…