Airport

And the World's Most Popular Airport Is ...


Tim Winship
Tim Winship

    Need a reality check on your picks for the world's best airports?

    The 2013

    Skytrax World Airports Awards

    were announced this week. The awards are based on surveys completed by 12 million flyers, reflecting "the total passenger experience at each airport, for departures, arrivals, transit through to the departure gate."

    Domestic U.S. flyers won't be surprised to find that no U.S. airports made the top-10 list. Or the top 25. Or the top 29.

    Among North American airports, only Vancouver International was in the top 10, ranked at number eight. The best-rated U.S. airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International, came in at number 30 overall.

    Five of the 10 most popular airports are in Asia, including the favorite, Singapore's Changi Airport. The top 10:


    1. Singapore Changi Airport
    2. Incheon International Airport
    3. Amsterdam Schipol Airport
    4. Hong Kong International Airport
    5. Beijing Capital International Airport
    6. Munich Airport
    7. Zurich Airport
    8. Vancouver International Airport
    9. Tokyo International Airport (Haneda)
    10. London Heathrow Airport



      The top-10 North American airports:


    11. Vancouver International Airport
    12. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
    13. Denver International Airport
    14. San Francisco International Airport
    15. Toronto Pearson International Airport
    16. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
    17. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
    18. Halifax Stanfield International Airport
    19. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
    20. New York JFK International Airport



      That's a pretty lackluster showing for the U.S., which in some ways has the most evolved commercial aviation system in the world. Airports apparently are not among our priorities.



      Reader Reality Check



      What are your favorite U.S. and overseas airports?



      This article originally appeared on FrequentFlier.com.