Melbourne Airport has been crowned “best airport” in the Australia-Pacific region for the second straight year, and the fourth time in five years, at the 2024 World Airport Awards held in Germany on Wednesday night.
The Victorian hub was also named among the top 20 airports overall (18th position) – finishing above hubs like London Heathrow and Frankfurt – and was runner-up in the category for best airports for 10 to 20 million passengers.
The annual Skytrax World Airport Awards are decided by passenger votes, making it the world’s biggest survey on airport satisfaction. It covers over 550 airports globally.
Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said the awards recognise the contribution of every staff member and the hub’s recent developments.
“Whether you work as the CEO or a cleaner, in customer service or in construction, everyone at Melbourne Airport is committed to enhancing our travellers’ journeys,” she said.
“Our ‘Stepping Forward’ program empowers all airport staff to assist passengers wherever they can, and we think that focus on human interaction is what sets us apart.
“In the past 12 months we’ve also been proud to open new restaurants, retail outlets and amenities, while also planning for future growth with a new runway, new roads and other terminal enhancements.
“We know there is still a lot of work to do, particularly in our international arrivals area, and that’s why we are working with our airline partners on future infrastructure plans, including an expanded international terminal and our third runway.”
The next best airports in the list of top Australia-Pacific hubs were Brisbane, Auckland, Perth and Sydney. Adelaide, Gold Coast, Christchurch, Nadi and Wellington rounded out the top 10 airports for the region.
Meanwhile, Adelaide Airport was voted Best Regional Airport in Australia-Pacific for the second time in three years and also finished among the world’s top 10 best airports for 5 to 10 million passengers.
“Adelaide Airport has now fully recovered from the pandemic and we have achieved record passenger numbers in the financial year to date,” Adelaide Airport Managing Director Brenton Cox said.
“The terminal looks great after our recent expansion with our retail space fully leased and the increased space for international arrivals and departures creating a smoother journey for our customers.
“We take our customers’ regular feedback into account when deciding how we can further improve our terminal and facilities, and that feedback is playing a role in prioritising work for our current $1 billion capital program.”
Elsewhere, Perth Airport picked up the award for Best Airport Staff in Australia & Pacific while finishing in the top 10 (7th) for airports for 10 to 20 million passengers.
Brisbane Airport, meanwhile, picked up the gong for the Cleanest Airport in Australia & Pacific whilst placing in the world’s top 10 (8th) airports for 20 to 30 million passengers.
Australia’s busiest hub, Sydney Airport, didn’t pick up any individual awards but placed among the best airports (7th) for 30 to 40 million passengers. Pullman Sydney Airport also picked up the prize for Best Airport Hotel in Australia & Pacific.
And the world’s best airports are…
In the prestigious category for the World’s Best Airport for 2024 overall, Doha’s Hamad International Airport soared to the top, edging last year’s winner Singapore Changi to the prize.
“At the heart of our growth strategy lies the passengers’ journey, their evolving needs, and our commitment to meeting and exceeding their expectations,” said Qatar Airways Group CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, who steered growth at Hamad over the past decade.
“We have introduced a diverse range of experiences at the airport, including ‘Souq Al Matar’, which brings Qatari hospitality and culture closer to travellers, “Orchard”, the ideal place for relaxation and rejuvenation between flights and an array of high-end lounges.”
Following the top two hubs were Seoul Incheon, Tokyo Haneda and Tokyo Narita. Paris CDG, Dubai, Munich, Zurich and Istanbul completed the top 10 best airports. Among the big movers from last year for the overall prize were Hong Kong (11th place, up from 33rd) and Dubai (7th place, up from 17th).
At the awards ceremony held in Frankfurt’s Passenger Terminal EXPO, Hamad didn’t just stop at the top prize. It also clinched awards for the World’s Best Airport Shopping and the Best Airport in the Middle East.
Despite dropping to second place overall, Changi still managed to shine, securing the Best Airport in Asia and the World’s Best Airport Immigration Service titles.
Seoul Incheon Airport, which moved up to third place, earned the accolade of World’s Most Family Friendly Airport for 2024.
Japan’s Tokyo Haneda Airport, known for its cleanliness and accessibility, retained its reputation by ranking fourth globally. It was also recognised as the World’s Cleanest Airport and the World’s Best Domestic Airport.
European airports also made their mark, with Rome Fiumicino Airport receiving its first World’s Best Airport Security Processing award.
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport continued its winning streak by being named the Best Airport in Europe for the second consecutive year, with its Terminal 3 facility also bagging the World’s Best Low-Cost Terminal title.
Read our wrap of last year’s awards here.