Flight or Fight

Have You Heard?

Passenger numbers increase whilst opinion rankings put Singapore Airlines on top of the world.

Flying is undergoing something of a revolution right now and aviation news has been coming faster than an Airbus down a hub airport runway.

Facts first. Airports Council International announced last week that its 2017 figures confirm that Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International is the world’s busiest airport, handling 104 million passengers. Beijing Capital International Airport comes in second (96 million passengers), followed by Dubai and Tokyo. In Europe, Heathrow is ranked seventh on the list, handling 78 million passengers, followed by Aeroport de Paris – Charles De Gaulle, with 69 million passengers at number 10. Amsterdam is at number 11 on the list, inwith Frankfurt at number 14.

We have all felt it, and figures released by International Air Transport Association (IATA) confirming that global passenger traffic grew by 7.6% in 2017 compared to 2016 prove it : Airports are busier than ever.

The World’s Busiest Airports 2017

1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Georgia) — 104 million passengers
2. Beijing Capital International Airport (China) — 96 million
3. Dubai International Airport (United Arab Emirates) — 88 million
4. Tokyo Haneda International Airport (Japan) — 85 million
5. Los Angeles International Airport (California) — 84.6 million
6. Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (Illinois) — 80 million
7. London Heathrow Airport (United Kingdom) — 78 million
8. Hong Kong International Airport (China)— 73 million
9. Shanghai Pudong International Airport (China) — 70 million
10. Aéroport de Paris-Charles de Gaulle (France) — 69 million
11. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (Netherlands) — 68.5 million
12. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (Texas) — 67 million
13. Guangzhou Bai Yun International Airport (China) — 66 million
14. Frankfurt Am Main Airport (Germany) — 64.5 million
15. Atatürk International Airport (Turkey) — 64 million
16. Indira Gandhi International Airport (India) — 63.5 million
17. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (Indonesia) — 63 million
18. Singapore Changi Airport (Singapore) — 62.22 million
19. Incheon International Airport (South Korea) — 62.16 million
20. Denver International Airport (Colorado) — 61 million

However, in a world where opinion counts more than ever, Trip Advisor has just released its latest survey of the best airlines as rated and reviewed by travellers across the globe. Whilst Singapore Airlines came out top for customer service, the UK’s Jet2.com came seventh. No other European airlines featured in the top 10.

World’s best airline as ranked and reviewed – Trip Advisor – April 2018

1. Singapore Airlines, Singapore
2. Air New Zealand, New Zealand
3. Emirates, United Arab Emirates
4. Japan Airlines, Japan
5. EVA Air, Taiwan
6. Southwest Airlines, United States
7. com, United Kingdom
8. Qatar Airways, Qatar
9. Azul, Brazil
10. Korean Air, South Korea