Asia’s Best Capital City Airports: Taoyuan International Airport Ranks Ninth

Airports are fascinating places. Beyond serving as transitional spaces for entry and exit, their design and planning require a level of precision and complexity no less demanding than building a small city. In this regard, passengers’ perceptions of an airport’s quality depend on many factors: including whether signage is clear and concise, the diversity of dining options, the accessibility of facilities, the convenience of traffic flow, available leisure choices, and even the number of restrooms—all of which influence how much travelers enjoy an airport.

 

For this survey, Agoda.com selected 15 major Asian cities: Bangkok, Beijing, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, New Delhi, Phnom Penh, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo, Vientiane, and Yangon. Travelers who have used these airports were asked to rate their overall experience on a scale from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), with 11,000 participants in total.

 

The results showed that Singapore’s Changi Airport (Changi Airport) claimed the top spot with an average score of 4.37. Changi Airport is renowned for its efficiency and continuous improvements and upgrades to its facilities. It consistently ranks among the top three in global airport rankings and evaluations, making it a model in the aviation industry. In 2012, Changi Airport handled 51 million passengers, placing it among the world’s busiest airports.

 

Hong Kong International Airport (Hong Kong International Airport) came in second with an average score of 4.13. Built on a large area of reclaimed land in the South China Sea, Hong Kong Airport is known for its convenient transfers and high-tech design, making it another consistent winner in airport evaluations alongside Singapore’s Changi Airport. In 2012, Hong Kong Airport welcomed 56 million passengers.

 

Ranked third, Seoul Incheon International Airport (Incheon International Airport) scored an average of 4.01, with a total of 39 million passengers in 2012. Incheon International Airport holds an unmatched record: from 2005 to 2012, it was named the world’s best airport by the Airports Council International (ACI) for seven consecutive years. After that, the ACI discontinued this global ranking and shifted to category-based evaluations such as regional performance, airport size, or most improved.

 

The fourth to eighth places were secured by New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and Beijing Capital International Airport, respectively. Ranking ninth is Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport (Taoyuan International Airport), which handled approximately 28 million passengers last year. When it opened in 1979, Taoyuan Airport had only one terminal. A second terminal was officially launched in 2000 to accommodate rapidly growing travel demand. Currently, construction of a third terminal is underway, with completion expected in 2018. Once finished, the airport will be capable of handling up to 43 million passengers annually. Rounding out the top ten is Cambodia’s Phnom Penh International Airport, the smallest among the top 10 Asian airports, with just around 2 million passengers last year. Perhaps because of its compact yet refined nature, travelers consider it one of Asia’s most elegant airports.

 

Asia’s Top 10 Best Capital City Airports:

Rank	Airport Name	Average Score
1	Singapore Changi International Airport	4.37
2	Hong Kong International Airport	4.13
3	Seoul Incheon International Airport	4.01
4	New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport	4.00
5	Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport	3.79
6	Tokyo Narita International Airport	3.69
7	Kuala Lumpur International Airport	3.56
8	Beijing Capital International Airport	3.48
9	Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport	3.38
10	Phnom Penh International Airport	3.14