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 intricate design and planning requirements are no less demanding than building a small city. In this regard, passengers’ perceptions of an airport’s quality depend on many factors: whether there are clear and concise signage, diverse dining options, well-designed accessible spaces, convenient circulation routes, available rest areas, or even the number of restrooms—all of these influence how much travelers enjoy the airport experience.

 

In 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 had used these airports were asked to rate their overall performance on a scale from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), with 11,000 participants.

 

The survey results showed that Singapore’s Changi Airport (Changi Airport) claimed the top spot with an average score of 4.37. Known for its high efficiency and continuous improvements and upgrades to its facilities, Changi Airport has consistently ranked in the top three in almost all global airport rankings and evaluations, making it a model in the airport industry. In 2012, Changi Airport handled 51 million passengers, making it a popular high-traffic airport.

 

Ranked second with an overall average of 4.13 was Hong Kong International Airport (Hong Kong International Airport). 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, competing with Singapore’s Changi Airport as a consistent top performer in airport evaluations. In 2012, Hong Kong Airport served 56 million passengers.

 

Ranked third was Seoul Incheon International Airport (Incheon International Airport), with an average score of 4.01 and a total of 39 million passengers in 2012. Incheon International Airport holds an unmatched record: from 2005 to 2011, it was named the world’s best airport for seven consecutive years by the Airports Council International (ACI). After that, the ACI discontinued this global ranking, replacing it with category-based evaluations such as regional, size, or most improved.

 

The fourth to eighth places were occupied by New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Tokyo Narita International Airport, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and Beijing Capital International Airport, respectively. Ranked ninth was Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport (Taoyuan International Airport), which handled around 28 million passengers last year. When Taoyuan Airport opened in 1979, it had only one terminal. In 2000, the second terminal was officially opened to meet rapidly growing travel demands. The third terminal is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in 2018, when it will be able to handle up to 43 million passengers annually. Tenth place went to Cambodia’s Phnom Penh International Airport, the smallest of the top 10 Asian airports, with about 2 million passengers last year. Perhaps because of its compact yet refined design, travelers consider it one of the most exquisite airports in Asia.

 

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