There’s a new world’s best airport, according to Skytrax which has handed out its World Airport Awards for 2021.
Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Doha, Qatar has been named the Best Airport in the World, beating out perennial winner Singapore Changi Airport which this year took third spot, just behind Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.
Other winners included Istanbul Airport, which was voted the World’s Most Improved Airport, Changi Airport Singapore was recognized for having the World’s Best Airport Staff while’s Tokyo Haneda Airport was voted the World’s Cleanest Airport. In the 35 to 45 million passenger category, Guangzhou Baiyun Airport in China was considered the world’s best.
Qatar’s Hamad International Airport (HIA) also won awards for Best Airport in the Middle East, Best Airport 25 to 35 million Passengers, Best Airport Staff in the Middle East, and COVID-19 Airport Excellence.
“Inaugurated in 2014, Hamad International Airport has rapidly become a customer favourite and moved from No 3 in the world in 2020 to be ranked World’s Best Airport this year,” said Edward Plaisted of Skytrax.
“As travel hubs worldwide have been impacted by the pandemic, Hamad International Airport was undeterred by the global travel disruptions and continued with its expansion plans while introducing additional airport health and safety standards.”
In response to the pandemic, HIA accommodated changing traveller needs for increased sanitisation measures and contactless services by implementing advanced technological solutions. The airport retrofitted its existing services with touchless capabilities at key passenger touchpoints such as self-check-in, self-bag-drop and terminal elevators. It implemented its home-grown automated facial detection system to ensure the wearing of masks for all its staff.
HIA uses its Smart Screening Helmets for contactless temperature measurement and autonomous disinfectant robots that emitting concentrated UV light in high passenger flow areas to protect the airport environment.
Here in Canada, the nation’s three largest airports cracked the top 100 with Vancouver finishing in 24th, Toronto was in 38th place and Montreal was 63rd.