THE WORLD’S TOP 20 AIRPORTS OF 2026

• Singapore Changi Airport
• Incheon International Airport
• Tokyo International Airport (Haneda)
• Hong Kong International Airport
• Narita International Airport
• Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
• Rome Fiumicino Airport
• Istanbul Airport
• Munich Airport
• Vancouver International Airport
• Helsinki-Vantaa Airport
• Chubu Centrair International Airport
• Dubai International Airport
• Riyadh Airport
• Vienna International Airport
• London Heathrow Airport
• Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
• Fukuoka Airport
• Zurich Airport
• Bahrain Airport

The 2026 World Airport Awards Airport Star Ratings

• Rome Ciampino Airport: awarded the 4-Star Regional Airport Rating
• Punta Cana International Airport: awarded the 4-Star Airport Rating
• Fukuoka International Airport: awarded the 5-Star Regional Airport Rating
• Haikou Meilan International Airport: awarded the 5-Star Airport Rating
• Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport: awarded the 5-Star Airport Rating
• Seoul Incheon Airport is ranked at No 2 globally in 2026, and won a coveted title as the World’s Most Family Friendly Airport.
• Tokyo Haneda Airport ranks No 3 globally and received three major awards as the World’s Cleanest Airport (Major Airport), the World’s Best Domestic Airport and for having the World’s Best Airport PRM & Accessible Facilities.
• Hong Kong International Airport moved up to No 4 globally and received the coveted award for the World’s Best Airport Washrooms and also collected the award for the World’s Best Airport Security Processing.
• London’s Heathrow Airport received a major award for the Worlds ‘s Best Airport Shopping.
• Chubu Centrair International Airport, Nagoya, was a repeat winner of the World’s Best Regional Airport award, and the Best Regional Airport in Asia title.
• Another success in Japan was for Aso Kumamoto Airport that received the award as the World’s Best New Airport Terminal.
• Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport collected the award as the World’s Most Improved Airport with an impressive global rating improvement on previous years, and reflecting the recent opening of their newly upgraded international Terminal 2.
• Paris CDG Airport enjoyed success winning the awards as the Best Airport in Europe for a fourth successive year, and their sister airport Paris Orly Airport took the top award as the Best Regional Airport in Europe.
• Japan’s New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido won a major award as the World’s Cleanest Airport (for up to 30 million passengers).
• Terminal 2 at Kansai International Airport replicated some earlier year success, winning the award for the World’s Best Low-Cost Terminal.
• Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport enjoyed a repeat success in the 2026 event, by winning a top award for the World’s Best Airport Baggage Delivery.
• Houston Airport System remains a dominant force by winning the award for the World’s Best Airport Art for the fourth successive year.
• Rome Fiumicino Airport is named the Best Airport in Southern Europe, Helsinki Vantaa Airport the Best Airport in Northern Europe, and Budapest Airport again wins the Best Airport in Eastern Europe title.
• Munich Airport was successful at the awards, winning the Awards for the Best Airport Staff in Europe, and as the Best Airport in Central Europe.
• Cape Town Airport is the major award winner in Africa, receiving two awards – as the Best Airport in Africa and Best Airport Staff Service in Africa.
• Delhi International Airport wins the award as the Best Airport in India & South Asia, and Hyderabad Airport received the award for Best Airport Staff Service in India & South Asia. Bangalore Airport collected the award for the Best Regional Airport in India & South Asia.
• In the Best Airport Hotel categories, Crowne Plaza Changi Airport collected the award as the World’s Best Airport Hotel and the Best Airport Hotel in Asia.
• Grand Hyatt at SFO received the award as the Best Airport Hotel in North America for the second time, and Hilton Munich Airport received the Best Airport Hotel in Europe award.
• The Pullman Brisbane Airport won the award as the Best Airport Hotel in Australia & Pacific region, and the Taj Bangalore was a repeat winner of the award as the Best Airport Hotel in India & South Asia.
• Hyatt Regency Shenzhen was named the Best Airport Hotel in China, Le Méridien Cairo Airport the Best Airport Hotel in Africa, with the Movenpick Bahrain collecting the award as the Best Airport Hotel in the Middle East.

Credits: Singapore Changi Airport

The post Changi wins World’s Best Airport in 2026 award first appeared on AircrewNews.com.

Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport (AUH) has been named the ‘Best Airport for Retail’ at the prestigious Frontier Awards 2025, held in Cannes during the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference. The recognition places AUH among the leading global airports for innovation and customer experience in retail.

The Frontier Awards are widely regarded as the Oscars of the travel retail industry, celebrating excellence in airport and duty-free shopping. Zayed International Airport stood out for its ambitious retail concepts, design-forward spaces, and strong partnerships with international brands.

One of the standout features has been “Presentedby,” a concept store launched with Avolta, which also won the Platinum Award for Interior Design – Retail, Shops & Malls at the 2025 London Design Awards. The space has been praised for combining striking design with an immersive shopping experience tailored to the modern traveler.

Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “I am immensely proud of our team’s dedication over the past two years in positioning Zayed International Airport among the world’s leading retail destinations. These global recognitions reaffirm our belief that airports can enrich, delight, and embody the spirit and ambition of Abu Dhabi.”

The accolade comes just a year after Terminal A opened, an architectural landmark that has already received international recognition for passenger service quality. Its expansive layout has provided new opportunities for luxury retail, duty-free shopping, and experiential stores.

Industry observers note that AUH’s win is also a signal of Abu Dhabi’s broader ambitions to position itself as a global hub for luxury, culture, and tourism. For airports worldwide, retail is a critical revenue driver, and AUH’s success could attract more premium brands to expand in the region.

Credits: Abu Dhabi

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