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Bahrain Airport is among best |
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Gulf Daily News - 24/8/2007 - BAHRAIN International Airport has been named one of the three best airports in the Middle East in a global poll, alongside Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The 2007 Airport of the Year survey by UK-based Skytrax Research named Hong Kong International Best Airport in the World, followed by Incheon International in Seoul and Singapore Changi both in second place.
Other international airports listed in the global top 10 are Munich, Kuala Lumpur International, Zurich, Amsterdam Schiphol, Vancouver International, Kansai International and Madrid Barajas, ranking at No.3 to 7 respectively.
The survey is based on more than 7.8 million interviews with respondents throughout the world and covers 170 airports.
It gives a global top 10, plus the top three in each region.
Judging covers more than 40 categories of product and service quality - such as cleanliness, staff efficiency and courtesy, signage and walking distances, as well as shopping, dining options, security processing and immigration waiting times.
"Top of passenger priorities are ease of airport usage and waiting times," said Skytrax chief executive Edward Plaisted.
"Travellers expect security processing to incur some delays, but are disappointed, often annoyed, if security facilities are inadequate.
"Waiting in line for 30 minutes to find only half the available security scanners open, is a frequent complaint."
A Bahrain International Airport official was delighted yesterday.
"We are happy and proud that Skytrax has selected Bahrain as one of the best three airports in the region," said airport acting director Khalid Al Hayat.
"Our airport has won several international awards.
"Our first and business class check-in counters were selected as the best in the region, and the Dilmun Lounge, operated by Bahrain Airport Services, also won global recognition."
Mr Al Hayat said such recognition motivated the airport team to further improve their services.
"We believe there is always room for improvement, especially at a time when our airport is undergoing a major expansion," he told the GDN.
The best airports in each region are:
Asia: Hong Kong, Singapore and Seoul;
Australia/Pacific: Sydney, Auckland and Brisbane;
Middle East: Dubai, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi;
South America: Buenos Aires, Santiago and Sao Paulo;
Southern Europe: Madrid, Athens and Istanbul;
Africa: Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban;
Europe: Munich, Zurich and Amsterdam;
North America: Vancouver, Denver and Atlanta;
Central/Eastern Europe: Prague, Budapest and Moscow Domodedovo.
Singapore was voted Best Duty Free Shopping and Leisure Amenities; Hong Kong, Best Airport Dining and "Best Security Processing; Abu Dhabi, Best Baggage Delivery; Seoul Incheon, Best International Transit and Cleanest Washrooms; Zurich, Best Immigration Service and Auckland, Friendliest Staff.
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