The 2014 winner, Dusseldorf Airport (DUS), has reached the top spot for best airport in the world with a total score of 4.52. It also stole major points in other categories, including occupying the second position for best bars and restaurants and gaining fifth in the category of best waiting areas.
This year marks the fourth edition of eDreams‘ annual awards for Best Airports in the World. The ranking is determined by the top scores overall of the top 10 airports and is then also ranked by the top 10 airports in other categories. eDreams’ results are all based on the ratings and reviews given by eDreams customers, exceeding 18,200 this year alone, with each of the candidates included in the study located in a city’s capital or having an annual traffic of more than 9 million people. So which airport ranked above all of the others? The eDreams Best Airport in the World 2014 is Dusseldorf Airport (DUS).
Dusseldorf Airport’s winning score is synonymous with its customers’ rave reviews. Traveller, Jcgaudin, for example, said: “Dusseldorf airport is a very nice airport.” Another traveller, Dauge, also said: “This is a classy airport- the best airport I know of. For the clarity, cleanliness, the atmosphere, environment, organization and there is also an effective sense of control, despite the many travellers passing through its terminals”. An Italian traveller, vitt82, also added it was a “big, clean airport with good style that was also very well connected by all means of transport”.
Top 10 Best Airports in the World
The 2014 winner, Dusseldorf Airport (DUS), has reached the top spot for best airport in the world with a total score of 4.52. It also stole major points in other categories, including occupying the second position for best bars and restaurants and gaining fifth in the category of best waiting areas. Though it shied away from claiming a spot for top 10 in best shopping area, they deserve congratulations for great rankings.
The coveted second position for Best Airports in the World goes to San Francisco Airport (SFO), which received a score of 4.50. Traveller, jcarazo, indicated: “The airport is a modern airport that’s well connected. It also has an internal railway station between terminals”.
The Stockholm- Arlanda Airport (ARN) received third place, with an overall score of 4.48. This airport also ranks among the Top 10 in the category of best waiting rooms. In previous years, the Swedish airport ranked fifth in the global ranking of 2013 and in eighth for 2012.
eDreams customer airport rankings also revealed a few of the previous year veterans in the top 10 results. The veteran list includes Narita International Airport (NRT), Changi Airport (SIN), Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) and Bangkok International Airport (BKK).
| 1 | Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) | Dusseldorf | Germany | 4.52 |
| 2 | San Francisco International Airport (SFO) | San Francisco | USA | 4.50 |
| 3 | Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) | Stockholm | Sweden | 4.48 |
| 4 | Narita International Airport (NRT) | Tokyo | Japan | 4.47 |
| 5 | Changi International Airport (SIN) | Singapore | Singapore | 4.45 |
| 6 | Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) | Helsinki | Finland | 4.38 |
| 7 | P.E.Trudeau International Airport (YUL) | Montreal | Canada | 4.37 |
| 8 | Bangkok International Airport (BKK) | Bangkok | Thailand | 4.36 |
| 9 | Franz Josef Strauß Airport (MUC) | Munich | Germany | 4.35 |
| 10 | Zurich Airport (ZRH) | Zurich | Switzerland | 4.33 |
Best Airports for Shopping
The best airports for shopping was also a category customers voted on and to no surprise, the Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), with more than 150 shopping outlets, ranked to the first position with a score of 4.45. The Changi Airport has risen from its previous third position in 2013; that deserves a congratulation! In addition, Changi Airport also ranks first in the categories of purchases and best waiting rooms.
At second place in this category is the Danish Lufthavn Copenhagen Airport – Kastrup (CPH) with a score of 4.19 and Colombian airport, El Dorado International Airport (BOG), occupies third place with a rating of 4.14.
Zurich Airport makes a scene yet again this year as one of the best rated by travellers. This year the airport is in fourth position and Narita Airport completes the top 5 with its quaint shops.
| 1 | Changi International Airport (SIN) | Singapore | Singapore | 4.45 |
| 2 | Copenhagen Lufthavn – Kastrup (CPH) | Copenhagen | Denmark | 4.19 |
| 3 | El Dorado International Airport (BOG) | Bogota | Colombia | 4.14 |
| 4 | Zurich Airport (ZRH) | Zurich | Switzerland | 4.12 |
| 5 | Narita International Airport (NRT) | Tokyo | Japan | 4.07 |
| 6 | Dubai International Airport (DXB) | Dubai | United Arab Emirates | 4.05 |
| 7 | Bangkok International Airport (BKK) | Bangkok | Thailand | 4.02 |
| 8 | E. Venizelos International Airport (ATH) | Athens | Greece | 4.01 |
| 9 | Ben-Gurion International (TLV) | Tel Aviv | Israel | 4.00 |
| 10 | Franz Josef Strauß Airport (MUC) | Munich | Germany | 3.97 |
Best Airports in the World for Dining
For the airport with the best bars and restaurants, Changi Airport also makes the top of the list with a total score of 4.45, Dusseldorf Airport (DUS) lies in second place and Zurich Airport (ZRH) takes the number three spot.
Singapore’s Changi Airport has a large variety of culinary offerings. Lucky passengers can choose from cafes, restaurants, fast food, vegan options, and much more.
The number two position in this category, Dusseldorf Airport, received customer accolades as well, with travellers commenting the airport was “clean and well organized with numerous restaurants, cafes and duty free shops”.
| 1 | Changi International Airport (SIN) | Singapore | Singapore | 4.45 |
| 2 | Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) | Dusseldorf | Germany | 4.20 |
| 3 | Zurich Airport (ZRH) | Zurich | Switzerland | 4.15 |
| 4 | Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) | Hong Kong | China | 4.13 |
| 5 | Copenhagen Lufthavn – Kastrup (CPH) | Copenhagen | Denmark | 4.05 |
| 6 | Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) | Bangkok | Thailand | 4.02 |
| 7 | Franz Josef Strauß Airport (MUC) | Munich | Germany | 4.00 |
| 8 | Hamburg Airport (HAM) | Hamburg | Germany | 3.95 |
| 9 | E. Venizelos International Airport (ATH) | Athens | Greece | 3.92 |
| 10 | Narita International Airport (NRT) | Tokyo | Japan | 3.91 |
Best Airports in the World for Waiting Rooms
For the second consecutive year, Changi International Airport is in first place for its fantastic waiting rooms, according to customer ratings. With a ranked score of 4.41 in this category, Changi is ahead of Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), which received a 4.20. This was followed by the third place winner, Hamburg Airport (HAM), which received a 4.17.
A couple examples of the opinions of Changi are from an Italian traveller who stated: “It is a perfect airport of maximum efficiency”. Another traveller, Marycsc, said: “The airport respects its town; it is beautiful and super organized”.
| 1 | Changi International Airport (SIN) | Singapore | Singapore | 4.41 |
| 2 | Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) | Hong Kong | China | 4.20 |
| 3 | Hamburg Airport (HAM) | Hamburg | Germany | 4.17 |
| 4 | Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) | Stockholm | Switzerand | 4.16 |
| 5 | Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) | Dusseldorf | Germany | 4.13 |
| 6 | Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) | New Delhi | India | 4.09 |
| 7 | Franz Josef Strauß Airport (MUC) | Munich | Germany | 4.06 |
| 8 | Zurich Airport (ZRH) | Zurich | Switzerland | 4.02 |
| 9 | Bangkok International Airport (BKK) | Bangkok | Thailand | 4.01 |
| 10 | Aeroporto Internazionale Chhatrapati Shivaji (BOM) | Bombay | India | 4.00 |
The 10 Worst Airports in the World
Knowing which airports ranked the worst is just as important as knowing which ranked the best, and this year, Rio de Janeiro International Airport (GLG) remains the worst airport in the world with a score of 2.93. Among customer criticisms, one passenger commented on his experience at the airport in Rio de Janeiro by stating: “My suitcase arrived two days later because it was lost on the layover. When it arrived, it was clear it had been open and I was missing things”. Another traveller left the following comment: “The airport is a bit chaotic. There are long lines at check-in and the lounges aren’t impressive”.
The second worst airport on the list is the Berlin-Schonefeld Airport (SXF), which in 2012, was ranked in the seventh position. Following in the third position is the Beirut International Airport (BEY), with passenger comments such as: “communication is very poor. It was a bad experience and in the end, I did not travel”.
There were airlines on the Top 10 Worst Airports ranking that repeated their fate from the previous year, such as the Mohamed V (CMN) Airport, which ranked in 4th and the Guarulhos International (GRU), which was sixth on the list.
| 1 | Rio De Janeiro International Airport (GIG) | Río de Janeiro | Brazil | 2.93 |
| 2 | Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF) | Berlin | Germany | 2.96 |
| 3 | Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY) | Beirut | Lebanon | 3.23 |
| 4 | Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) | Casablanca | Morrocco | 3.28 |
| 5 | Aeroporto Roma-Ciampino (CIA) | Rome | Italy | 3.34 |
| 6 | Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) | São Paulo | Brazil | 3.37 |
| 7 | Aeroporto Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez (SCL) | Santiago del Chile | Chile | 3.43 |
| 8 | London Luton Airport (LTN) | London | United Kingdom | 3.48 |
| 9 | Menara Airport (RAK) | Marrakech | Morrocco | 3.49 |
| 10 | Cancun International Airport (CUN) | Cancun | Mexico | 3.50 |
Photo caption: Dusseldorf Airport.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
