Best Airports in Asia 2015

Date: October 17, 2015

The best airports in Asia are far more than just the best on the continent – many of them are ranked the best in the world! Here, the terminals fuse practical necessities with opulent extravagances to make for the ultimate airport experience. A layover or visit here begins with airports that are reliably clean, comfortable, convenient and friendly. Basics covered, these airports then move on to surpass expectations through extravagances like indoor gardens, IMAX theatres, decadent spas, museums, multi-story slides and free city tours. Virtually all provide free and unlimited Wi-Fi, great restaurant selection and fantastic shopping as well. Each year, these terminals seem to grow more creative and more comfortable, setting a high bar that other continental leaders struggle to match!

These are the Top 10 Best Airports in Asia based on overall airport experience as determined by voters in our 2015 Airport Survey:

1. Singapore Changi International Airport, Singapore (SIN)

Absolutely fantastic! First time visiting an Asian region airport and I was a bit skeptical. Would definitely make my layover alot longer next time! – a traveller

For nearly two decades, Singapore Changi has firmly held onto its spot as both the best airport in Asia – and the world! It’s hard to know where to begin when it comes to describing the airport’s strengths. Perhaps, it’s the extreme efficiency experienced when moving from the airplane to the city centre? Or maybe it’s the luxurious layover indulgences, which include a fish spa, a sauna, a butterfly garden, showers and a koi pond? Other’s might argue that it’s the fitness and entertainment activities – which include a multi-story slide, a gym, a free movie theatre and the free city tours. We can’t be sure! Voters are quick to liken time spent here to a five-star hotel that they are sad to leave, even after 22 hours inside it. No matter which way you look at it, Singapore Changi offers a soothing and entertaining environment within an impeccably clean airport that is staffed by some of the world’s most pleasant people. See also Best Airports in the World and Best Airports for Sleeping.

Airport Services/Facilities: Pay-per-use Lounges ($) • Free WiFi • Free City Tour • Free Movies • Napping Rooms ($) • Transit Hotel ($) • 24-Hour Food Options ($) • Swimming Pool ($) • Showers ($) • Luggage Storage ($) • Gardens • Rest Zones • Spa ($) • Cultural Activities. For more information, visit our Singapore Changi Airport Guide.

2. Seoul Incheon International Airport, South Korea (ICN)

Rest and relaxation area was a quiet haven and respite from the departure area below. – a traveller

Perpetually hot on Singapore Changi’s heels is Seoul Incheon – a consistent second place winner on our best airports list. The airport earns adoration from travellers by offering up free showers, ultra-fast free Wi-Fi, plenty of comfortable seating (think: recliners, beanbag chairs, relaxation areas, etc.) and impeccable service. It also provides a number of unique locally-inspired activities, like the Korean Cultural Street, indoor gardens, (reasonably priced) local cuisine, cultural performances and free tours of the city for transit passengers! One traveller summed it up perfectly in saying that the saddest part of their time at ICN was realizing that their gate was open and that it was time to leave. A great layover option, Seoul Incheon is practically loved by all! See also Best Airports in the World and Best Airports for Sleeping.

Airport Services/Facilities: Pay-per-use Lounges ($) • Free WiFi • Transit Hotel ($) • 24-Hour Food Options • Gardens • Cultural Activities • Luggage Storage ($) • Free Showers • Skating Rink ($) • Transit Tour ($). For more information, visit our Seoul Incheon Airport Guide.

3. Tokyo Haneda International Airport, Japan (HND)

Very good access by train, monorail and bus. Fast and quick for immigration. Sushi bar is available at departure terminal. – a traveller

Tokyo Haneda is admired by travellers for being tidy, efficient, modern and generally just really pleasant. Connected to the city centre in roughly 45 minutes by public transport, HND is far preferred to Tokyo’s other airport: Narita, which is located 2+ hours away. Activities within the airport do tend to be a little scarce, but this is all but made up for by the outstanding food and the attached hotels – one of which is for humans and the other, for pets. For those who would rather not splurge for the hotel, the terminals are also reviewed to be good for sleepers. Because all shops and services shut down at night, sleepers are left undisturbed in relative darkness. See also Best Airports in the World and Best Airports for Sleeping.

Airport Services/Facilities: Pay-per-use Lounges ($) • Free WiFi • Transit Hotel ($) • 24-Hour Food Options ($) • Showers ($) • Luggage Storage ($). For more information, visit our Tokyo Haneda Airport Guide.

Photo courtesy of kurosawagram on Instagram

4. Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan (TPE)

The airport offers lots of entertainment activities, such as free library for travellers to kill time. – a traveller

Taipei’s primary airport first snags traveller attention with a series of creatively themed gates that pay tribute to Hello Kitty, tea, Taiwan music, and the Asian Oscars. Themed chairs, a red carpet and a free travel library keep passengers entertained as they explore each gate, eventually finding their own. TPE also provides a number of more practical perks, including unlimited free Wi-Fi, a transit hotel, private lounges, free 15-minute showers (complete with free Kiehls shower kit), and a number of art and museum exhibits. The duty free shops are mentioned for liberally giving out free samples, and the staff are reputed to be particularly friendly. See also Best Airports in the World and Best Airports for Sleeping.

Airport Services/Facilities: Pay-per-use Lounge • Free WiFi • Free 15-minute Showers • Transit Hotel ($) • Cultural Activities • Library • Luggage Storage • Museum • Rest Zones. For more information, visit our Taipei Taoyuan Airport Guide.

5. Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong (HKG)

I love this airport simply because you’re out the arrival terminal and can get right on the Airport Express to Kowloon and/or Hong Kong Island in just between 20 and 30 minutes! – a traveller

Hong Kong International Airport is allegedly kept so clean that you can eat off the floor without worry – though we’re not sure we’ll actually try this. That, and in spite of being gigantic, it is ultra-easy to navigate. The terminals provide all of the standard-yet-extravagant Asian airport amenities, including gardens, sleep rooms, spas and showers within a naturally light and airy space. And, HKG happens to be home to the nation’s largest IMAX theatre, which plays a combination of national and international films throughout the day. Sleep-wise, travellers love the availability of armrest-free chairs, the ultra-friendly staff and the abundance of 24-hour restaurant options. Though the airport dropped a few points from its third place in 2014, it is still a strong favourite airport within Asia! See also Best Airports in the World and Best Airports for Sleeping.

Airport Services/Facilities: Pay-per-use Lounges ($) • Free WiFi • 24-Hour Food Options ($) • IMAX Theatre ($) • Showers ($). For more information, visit our Hong Kong Airport Guide.

Courtesy of cynthiawxb on Instagram

6. Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia (KUL)

Marvelous architecture and efficient layout makes the terminal a pleasant place to be in. – a traveller

Kuala Lumpur’s main terminal continues to amaze travellers with its indoor rainforest, complete with wooden walkways along the forest floor and through the canopy. Looking more broadly, the main terminal is well-reviewed for being clean, spacious, comfortable and organized. Restaurant options cater well to all types of travellers, and there is enough shopping and free Wi-Fi to keep you going for a few hours. That said, the airport’s KLIA2 Terminal drops the airport’s overall score by a number of points. Noisy, cold and uncomfortable, this terminal is a far less impressive counterpart to the main terminal. Complaints aside, some improvements have been made. There is now a movie lounge and sleeping area that are decent for catching some shuteye, and there are a number of F and G plugs installed that suit most European devices. See also Best Airports in the World and Best Airports for Sleeping.

Airport Services/Facilities: Pay-per-use Lounges ($) • 3 hours Free WiFi • Napping Rooms ($) • Transit Hotel ($) • Luggage Storage ($) • Rest Zones • Showers ($) • Spa. For more information, visit our Kuala Lumpur Airport Guide.

7. Osaka Kansai International Airport, Japan (KIX)

The comfort factor was spectacular. The benches were long and padded without armrests, the lighting was dim enough to encourage sleeping, and the information desk even provided blankets. – a traveller”

Osaka Kansai Airport is located on a manmade island, 38 kilometers away from Osaka, Japan. Like other airports on this list, travellers praise KIX for being particularly clean, spacious and comfortable. Travellers appreciate the fact that you can lock your luggage up before spending a few hours wandering between great shops and restaurants, before eventually finding a reasonably comfortable armrest-free bench to spread out on. A few voters went out of their way to mention the particularly comfortable benches near the 24-hour Lawson convenience store (Terminal 1, second floor) which make sleep “a real possibility”. Couple that with the recent opening of the 24-hour rest area – a place stocked with cushioned armrest-free benches and blankets – and you’re sure to catch a little shut eye here. See also Best Airports in the World and Best Airports for Sleeping.

Airport Services/Facilities: Pay-per-use Lounge ($) • 24-Hour Food Options • Luggage Storage ($) • Rest Zone • Showers ($). For more information, visit our Osaka Kansai Airport Guide.

Photo courtesy of ag_kkirin on Instagram

8. New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport, India (DEL)

Very clean and a plush terminal . A delay here is actually entertaining. Undoubtedly the best Indian Airport at present. – a traveller

Voters who travelled through New Delhi in the past year were particularly delighted by the “superb infrastructure with great ambiance.” The airport continues to provide a great variety of shops and restaurants, with comfortable waiting areas surrounding them. Staff are also reviewed for typically being pleasant and helpful, even though some complained about long security processes and lines. Amenity-wise, there are a good number of entertainment and relaxation features – including nap rooms, transit hotels, showers, and a spa and Wi-Fi in excess of the 45-minute time limit. Unfortunately, they do all come at a cost to the user, making DEL a little less wallet-friendly. Travellers should keep in mind that the new international terminal 3 is far more modern and fresh than the domestic terminals, which still require a refreshing. See also Best Airports in the World and Best Airports for Sleeping.

Airport Services/Facilities: Pay-per-use Lounges ($) • 45 minutes Free WiFi • Napping Rooms ($) • 24-Hour Food Options ($) • Transit Hotel ($) • Showers ($) • Luggage Storage ($) • Spa ($). For more information, visit our New Delhi Airport Guide.

Photo courtesy of shashankmehta on Instagram

9. Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, India (HYD)

They are very customer friendly, airport staff will help in every aspect without any heistation. – a traveller

A pleasant atmosphere, good customer service and comfortable chairs have helped put Hyderabad International on our list of best airports in Asia! Though HYD lacks the opulence of some of the high ranking terminals, it does offer simple and reliable amenities, including Wi-Fi, napping rooms, luggage storage and showers. Unfortunately, most of these features do come at a cost to the traveller. For those on a budget, it is thankfully not too difficult to find a comfortable and clean corner to curl up in for a few hours – or the night. See also Best Airports in the World and Best Airports for Sleeping.

Airport Services/Facilities: Pay-per-use Lounges ($) • 45 minutes Free WiFi • Napping Rooms ($) • 24-Hour Food Options • Luggage Storage ($) • Showers ($). For more information, visit our Hyderabad Airport Guide.

Photo courtesy of gaurav_90 on Instagram

10. Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, India (BOM)

Loved the new infrastucture – just awesome! – a traveller

Mumbai’s international airport sneaks onto this list for the first time ever, thanks to a beautiful new international terminal. The terminal is kept reliably clean, and staff are generally helpful and pleasant. Though elaborate amenities are practically non-existent, with the exception of a few art installations and a transit hotel, the free Wi-Fi and desktop computers certainly help pass the time. Travellers should keep in mind that the new international terminal is far more modern than the domestic terminals. Voters across the board agree that BOM has made impressive progress over the years, and we suspect that with a more free traveller comforts, it will continue its climb! See also Best Airports in the World and Best Airports for Sleeping.

Airport Services/Facilities: Pay-per-use Lounges ($) • Free WiFi • Transit Hotel ($) • Luggage Storage ($). For more information, visit our Mumbai Airport Guide.

Photo courtesy of jhaarchit1993 on Instagram

Top 30 Best Airports in Asia

We are often asked how other airports ranked in the survey, so below you will find a list of the Top 30 Best Airports in Asia as voted by travellers in our 2015 Airport Survey:

1. Singapore Changi International Airport, Singapore (SIN)
2. Seoul Incheon International Airport, South Korea (ICN)
3. Tokyo Haneda International Airport, Japan (HND)
4. Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan (TPE)
5. Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong (HKG)
6. Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia (KUL)
7. Osaka Kansai International Airport, Japan (KIX)
8. New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport, India (DEL)
9. Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, India (HYD)
10. Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, India (BOM)
11. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok (BKK)
12. Tokyo Narita International Airport, Japan (NRT)
13. Koh Samui Airport, Thailand (USM)
14. Trivandrum International Airport, India (TRV)
15. Cochin International Airport, India (COK)
16. Lahore Allama Iqbal International Airport, Pakistan (LHE)
17. Bangalore Bengaluru International Airport, India (BLR)
18. Mactan–Cebu International Airport, Philippines (CEB)
19. Kolkata Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, India (CCU)
20. Karachi Jinnah International Airport, Pakistan (KHI)
21. Iloilo International Airport, Philippines (ILO)
22. Kualanamu International Airport, Indonesia (KNO)
23. Da Nang International Airport, Vietnam (DAD)
24. Clark International Airport, Philippines (CRK)
25. Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport, Azerbaijan (GYD)
26. Surabaya Juanda International Airport, Indonesia (SUB)
27. Penang International Airport, Malaysia (PEN)
28. Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport, Vietnam (HAN)
29. Beijing Capital International Airport, China (PEK)
30. Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Malaysia (BKI)