EDITORIAL – Out of the league

Whoever said airports are mere terminals? Airports are more than simply points of departure and arrival. They’re like an extension of our homes.
With that mindset, Seoul’s Incheon International Airport was recently named the best airport in the world when it comes to customer service.
South Korea’s biggest hub topped the poll conducted by Montreal-based Airports Council International, the Airport Service Quality Awards (ASQ) that surveyed 550,000 travellers at more than 300 airports around the world. Incheon scored the highest marks for passenger satisfaction.
How was the survey made? ASQ asked flyers to rate airports across 34 criteria that include access, check-in, security, airport facilities, dining and retail.
Second to Seoul was erstwhile no. 1 Changi Airport in Singapore, and for those who have travelled to our island country ASEAN neighbor, you know how it is once you step inside Changi Airport.
These two airports are no strangers to airport awards. They actually figure always against each other in nabbing the title of world’s best airport from Skytrax.
A similar survey carried out by The Guide to Sleeping in Airports also asked travellers to rate airports based on factors such as comfort, convenience, cleanliness, and customer service.
Not surprisingly, that list was topped by Singapore’s Changi Airport and was again followed closely by Seoul Incheon International Airport.
Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal I topped that list as the world’s worst last year.
For the record, ACI’s Airport Service Quality (ASQ) is the only global benchmarking programme measuring passengers’ satisfaction while they are at the airport.
Now, you ask, how our airports rated in the ASQ list?
The answer is: Not one of our airports is even on that ASQ ratings list. We are not in the league. Phew!