10 Foreign Airports That Make NYC's LaGuardia Feel Like A

'Third World Country'

Alex Davies and Leah Goldman Feb. 7, 2014, 11:20 AM 111,515 15

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Photo courtesy of Singapore Changi Airport
In a speech on American infrastructure Thursday, Vice President Joe Biden said that compared to airports like Hong Kong International, New
York's LaGuardia feels like a "third world country."
In January, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called LaGuardia and JFK "inexcusable," and announced the state would take over responsibility
for revamping both.
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Page 27 of 36 Best Airports In The World - Business Insider
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To give American travelers a look at what they're missing until those renovations are complete, we've put together a list of the world's best airports,
based on the 2013 World Airport Awards, announced in April 2013 by leading airline reviewer Skytrax.
The awards, which include categories for best terminal, shopping, security, cleanliness, dining, and more, are determined by public opinion. More
than 12 million people responded to this year's survey.
As President Obama noted in a press conference in April , the highest ranked U.S. airport is Cincinnati at 30. Not very impressive.
10 London eathro Airport
Yearly passengers 69.4 million
Why it's aesoe Despite London Mayor Boris Johnson's concern
that Heathrow gives visitors "a terrible impression of the U.K.," the
overcrowded airport made it into Skytrax's top 10.
The third-busiest airport in the world in 2012, it took home the
awards for Best Airport Shopping and Best Airport Terminal, for
T5, which opened in 200 after a $6.2 billion, 19-year design and
construction process.
Heathrow's Skytrax review includes four or five out of five star
rankings for ease of use, flight information, public transport,
security staff efficiency, and more.
Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is
for 2011, provided by Airports Council International.
Tokyo nternational Airport aneda
Yearly passengers 62.6 million
Why it's aesoe Haneda moved up five places this year, partly
thanks to how clean it is.
With a third international terminal that opened in 2010, Haneda can
accommodate 90 million passengers annually.
More construction is already in the works: The Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure and Transport announced plans to expand the new
terminal with eight more gates, more parking, and a hotel, by March
2014.
The airport won the Skytrax awards for Best Airport Terminal
Cleanliness and World's Best Domestic Airport, and took second
place for Best Airport Immigration Service.
Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is
for 2011, provided by Airports Council International.
anouer nternational Airport
Yearly passengers 18 million
Why it's aesoe The least busy airport in the Skytrax top 10,
Vancouver International offers visitors a large collection of Pacific
Northwest Coast Native art.
Skytrax named Vancouver International the Best Airport in North
America for the fourth year in a row in 2013, a streak that justifies
the $1.4 billion the airport spent ona recent expansion.
Volunteers, known as Green Coat Ambassadors, work in the airport
to help travelers get where they're going.
Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figures
provided by Vancouver International Airport.
urih Airport
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Yearly passengers 24.8 million
Why it's aesoe The largest international airport in Switzerland,
Zurich was significantly expanded in 2003, with a new terminal and
an underground, automated train called the Skymetro to shuttle
travelers around.
Located 7 miles north of the Zurich city center, this airport also won
Best Airport Baggage Delivery in Europe.
The airport offers a porter service where travelers pay a fee to have
their bag picked up from anywhere in the airport and delivered to
their final destination.
Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figures
provided by Zurich Airport.
Munih Airport
Yearly passengers 37.8 million
Why it's aesoe Germany's second- busiest airport features
aesthetically pleasing terminals on the walk to the gate. Many of the
walls and ceilings are made of glass, making the airport feel large
and open.
The airport, a 45-minute train ride from the Munich city center, was
also named the best in Central Europe, and the World's Best Airport
for Dining.
Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is
for 2011, provided by Airports Council International.
eiing Capital nternational Airport
Yearly passengers 78.7 million
Why it's aesoe Already beyond its 78 million passenger annual
capacity, Beijing Capital is the busiest airport in Asia and the
second-busiest in the world, trailing only Atlanta's Hartsfield-
Jackson.
That's why the city is building another airport, which will be bigger
than JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark combined.
Capital's tallest building, Terminal 3, came in fifth for Best Airport
Terminal. It opened in 2008, in time for the Beiing lympics.
Capital also took second place for Best Baggage Delivery.
Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is
for 2011, provided by Airports Council International.
ong ong nternational Airport
Yearly passengers 53.3million
Why it's aesoe Located less than five flying hours from half of
the world's population, Hong Kong's airport is one of the busiest in
the world.
It didn't win any awards, but it landed in the top five for dining,
shopping, cleanliness, and leisure amenities.
In March 2012, the airport decided to add a third runway to increase
its capacity.
Hong Kong International also offers a nine-hole golf course, a great
place for travelers to spend long layovers.
Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is
for 2011, provided by Airports Council International.
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Asterda hiphol
Yearly passengers 49.8 million
Why it's aesoe Schiphol opened in 1916 as a military airfield
and has now transformed into one of the busiest airports in the
world.
While travelers wait for their flight departures, they can enjoy a
massage, play a game of poker at the casino, and catch up on some
reading at the airport library.
According to Skytrax, Schiphol also has excellent dining and
shopping options.
Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is
for 2011, provided by Airports Council International.
nheon nternational Airport
Yearly passengers 39.2 million
Why it's aesoe Incheon, the largest airport in South Korea,
serves passengers on more than 70 airlines, and is one of only three
airlines to receive a five-star overall rating from Skytrax.
Every year from 2005 to 2012, it was rated as the world's top airport
by Airports Council International.
The young airport it opened in March 2001 is home to a
museum of Korean culture, and has excellent rankings for
cleanliness, external views, rest areas, internet access, and local food
choices.
Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is
for 2011, provided by Airports Council International.
1 ingapore Changi Airport
Yearly passengers 46.5 million
Why it's aesoe Changi is designed to alleviate the stress of
travel, and offers passengers the chance to enoy lots of greenery, an
outdoor pool, and a butterfly garden.
For those who prefer to stay inside, it also houses movie theaters,
spas, showers, and a four-story slide.
Business Insider editor Jennifer Polland had the chance to visit last
month, and wrote:
I recently spent several hours in the airport during a trip to
Singapore and had a chance to explore. The bottom line: This is
a place where you'll actually enoy having a long layover.
Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is
for 2011, provided by Airports Council International.
No take a look at the est ays to get around in the
air
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