Turkey’s Istanbul no longer world’s best international airport in Travel+Leisure annual ranking

Changi Airport secured a score of 95.19 out of 100 at this year’s World’s Best Awards survey.

“Back on top after a two-year hiatus, this legendary hub has efficient operations, excellent hospitality, and eye-catching amenities like a butterfly garden and a swimming pool,” the magazine said.

The Istanbul Airport came in third this year after Hamad International Airport in Qatar.

Zayed International Airport in UAE ranked fourth and Dubai International Airport rounded out the top five.

The rest of the top 10 were Hong Kong International Airport (China), Incheon International Airport (South Korea), Haneda Tokyo Airport (Japan), Shanghai Pudong International Airport (China) and Adelaide Airport (Australia).

Changi, home to the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, features automated check-in counters and biometric immigration clearance to streamline the passenger journey.

The airport handled a record 69.98 million passengers last year, surpassing its pre-pandemic high of 68.3 million in 2019, before Covid-19 severely disrupted global air travel, The Straits Times reported.

Changi had to deal with some negative publicity last year, including tourist complaints about slow baggage handling upon entering the airport. The airport operator then issued an apology and pledged to ensure a smooth experience for all travelers.