These top ten airports all offer modern leisure facilities, smooth transit and efficient service; what more could an international traveller ask for?
1. Hong Kong International Airport – This airport is located at Hkia Tower 1 Sky Plaza Road, Hong Kong and is also known as Chek Lap Kok Airport to distinguish it from the previous airport it replaced in Kowloon. Built entirely on reclaimed land it opened in July 1998 and last year carried more than 53.9 million passengers. There were also 3.9 million tons of cargo that had moved through the airport. Approximately 100 airlines fly to 160 various locations throughout the world and HKG is an important gateway with China, flying to over 40 Chinese destinations. During peak hours, there will be approximately 63 different flights taking off within an hour.
2. Singapore Changi Airport – This multi-award winning airport is located on the Eastern tip of Singapore about 17km outside of the city. The first terminal opened in December 1981 and although both the exterior and interior is a little dated the facilities, shops and restaurants are excellent. Over 46 million passengers use this airport annually, with approximately 6,300 flights arriving and departing every week from 80 international airlines. There are 100 airlines that use this airport flying to approximately 220 various locations throughout the world.
3. Incheon International Airport – This airport is located at Unseo-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon, South Korea and opened in March 2001. Incheon has been consistently voted as the best airport in the world, in fact for the last 7 years! There are approximately 20,590 flights each year that carry over 3.1 million passengers. Approximately 80 airlines fly in and out of this airport.
4. Munich Airport – This airport is located at Nordallee 25 85356 Munich, Germany. It started its operations in October 1939 and is today the second busiest airport in Germany, after Frankfurt Airport. Approximately 37.8 million passengers had flown using this airline in 2011. There are 100 different airlines flying to 241 destinations throughout the world.
5. Beijing Capital International Airport – This airport is located approximately 20 miles northeast of Beijing’s city center in China and is Asia’s busiest airport. It opened in March 1958 with many recent upgrades. There were approximately 73.95 million passengers that used this airport in 2010 making it the second busiest passenger airport in the world. More than 90 airlines use this airport and fly to 223 different airlines worldwide.
6. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol – This airport is located at Evert v/d Beekstraat 202 1118 CP Schiphol, Netherlands and is widely considered as an ‘airport city’. It was originally opened in September 1916 as a military airbase and today serves as a primary transport hub for much of north and west Europe. Flights using civil airplanes began using this airfield in 1920. This airport was used by 49.8 million passengers in 2011 connecting to destinations across the globe. There are 106 airlines that fly in and out of this airport to 301 destinations.
7. Zurich Airport – This airport is located at 8302 Kloten, Switzerland. The first flights from this airport were in 1948 but the opening celebration did not take place until 1953. Approximately 24.34 million passengers used this airport last year on some 74 airlines.
8. Auckland International Airport – This airport is located at PO Box 73020 Manukau 2150, New Zealand. In 1928 the airport’s site was originally used by the Auckland Aero Club. The first flight from the airport was in 1965 and it officially opened in 1966. Over 13 million passengers had flown in and out of this airport annually and there are currently 27 airlines operating here.
9. Kuala Lumpur International Airport – This airport is located at Jalan Klia S3, 64000 Sepang, Klia, Malaysia. It was officially opened in January 1996 and today serves as a main connecting hub to much of Asia. This airport had over 34 million passengers in 2010 and can carry over 1.2 million tons of cargo per year. There are 53 airlines that currently carry passengers and 15 airlines that carry cargo.
10. Copenhagen Airport – This airport is located at Lufthavnsboulevarden 6, 2770 Kastrup, Denmark. It opened in April 1925 on the Danish island of Amager just 8km from the capital city of Copenhagen. It was one of the first private airports and originally had a grass runway. Approximately 22.7 million passengers used this airport in 2011. There are currently 60 airlines that fly in and out of this airport.
