Singapore's Changi named the world's best airport in 2025

According to the latest results from ranking organisation Skytrax, Singapore's Changi Airport, located in Singapore, has been named the world's best airport for 2025 — its 13th time receiving the title. For many travellers, time spent at an airport can be tedious, which is why videos offering tips on getting through terminals as quickly as possible are gaining popularity on social media.

Changi Airport, however, has long since become a destination in its own right. Its early check-in service lets passengers drop off luggage up to 48 hours before departure, turning time spent in the terminals into part of the holiday. Visitors typically head to the Jewel shopping mall, spanning ten floors and drawing around 80 million visitors in 2024. It also houses several indoor gardens (including a butterfly pavilion) and the 40-metre "Rain Vortex," the world's largest indoor waterfall (around 130 feet).

Changi also has spas, hotels, art exhibitions, a museum, a cinema, and even a dinosaur-themed play area. Skytrax specifically highlighted the airport as a culinary destination too: Changi picked up awards for "Best Airport Dining," "Best Airport Toilets," and "Best Airport in Asia" at the World Airport Awards ceremony held on 9 April in Madrid. And this is likely far from the last award this model aviation hub will win.

CNN Business recently reported that over the next six years, Changi Airport will invest more than $2 billion in improving service quality and expanding infrastructure. In addition, work has already begun on building a fifth terminal, planned to open in the 2030s.

Asia's global leadership in airports is confirmed by other findings from the Skytrax survey too: in the ranking, based on passenger reviews across 565 airports worldwide, second place went to Qatar's artfully designed, luxurious Hamad International. It also won awards for "Best Airport Shopping" and "Best Airport in the Middle East." Third through sixth place went to Tokyo Haneda (named the cleanest airport), Seoul Incheon (best staff), and Narita and Hong Kong.

Europe managed to claim several spots in the top twenty — from seventh place (Paris Charles de Gaulle, named Europe's best for the third time) to 19th place (Amsterdam Schiphol). Eighth place went to Rome Fiumicino Airport, particularly in demand during the Catholic Church's Jubilee Year. Ninth, tenth, and twelfth place went to Munich, Zurich, and Helsinki-Vantaa, respectively. Istanbul Airport, in 14th place, was recognised as the most family-friendly.

Further down the list were Vienna (15th), Copenhagen (18th), and the aforementioned Schiphol (19th), though Europe's busiest airport, London Heathrow, did not receive any individual award. The only representative from the Americas in the top twenty is Vancouver, in 13th place, while Cape Town was named the best in Africa, also recognised for the best staff in the region.

The top 20 also included Dubai (11th), Melbourne (16th), Chubu Centrair in Japan (17th, named best regional airport), and Bahrain (20th). Individual awards went to: Taiwan Taoyuan for fastest baggage delivery, Copenhagen for best security screening, and Hong Kong for the most efficient immigration service.

The list of the world's best airports for 2025 is as follows:

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1. Singapore Changi
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2. Hamad (Doha, Qatar)
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3. Tokyo Haneda
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4. Incheon (Seoul)
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5. Narita (Tokyo)
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6. Hong Kong
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7. Paris Charles de Gaulle
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8. Rome Fiumicino
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9. Munich
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10. Zurich
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11. Dubai
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12. Helsinki-Vantaa
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13. Vancouver
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14. Istanbul
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15. Vienna
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16. Melbourne
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17. Chubu Centrair
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18. Copenhagen
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19. Amsterdam Schiphol
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20. Bahrain.
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