Only one North American airport makes list of world’s best

By Lilit Marcus | CNN

Ali versus Frazier. The Red Sox versus the Yankees. Doha versus Singapore.

For the last decade, Singapore’s Changi International Airport and Doha’s Hamad International Airport have been going back and forth, battling over the title of ‘world’s best’.

Every year, UK-based airline and airport review and ranking site Skytrax surveys travelers from around the globe to compile its list of the best airports in the world, and for 2024 the honor goes to Qatar’s airport, which is known for its ultra-modern design, easy-to-navigate terminals and high-end shopping.

Singapore (SIN) had the title in 2023 and 2020, while Doha (DOH) took the gong in 2022 and 2021.

“This year, [Hamad International Airport] celebrates its milestone tenth year of operations and we are truly honored that passengers have voted us Best Airport in the World for a third time,” Qatar Airways Group’s CEO, Badr Mohammed Al Meer, said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing to surprise and delight passengers by creating memorable and exceptional passenger journeys in the years to come.”

DOH is one of several airports that offer free city tours for passengers with long layovers, which earned it high marks from respondents. It’s also home to the Oryx Airport Hotel, where visitors can enjoy spa treatments, a squash court and an 82-foot swimming pool.

The Skytrax rankings were announced at the World Airport Awards in Frankfurt, Germany, on April 17. Data for the list was collected between August 2023 to March 2024 from people of more than 100 nationalities. Respondents were polled on a variety of topics, from ease of getting through security checkpoints to quality and variety of food and drink.

European airports dominate