Seoul's Incheon International Airport has been named World's Best Airport for 2009, in the World Airport Awards published by Skytrax.
The most prolific World's Best Airport winner in recent years, Hong Kong International Airport, was pipped into second place by Incheon International, with Singapore Changi Airport ranking third best in the world, according to the latest passenger satisfaction rankings.
Skytrax reported that the final winning margins between these top three positions was the smallest ever known for such a large global project ... and at one stage it looked possible there might be a dead-heat result between these top three.
The awards are based on the results from 8.6 million questionnaires completed by airline passengers in 2008/9, covering more than 190 airports worldwide. The survey evaluates traveller experiences across 39 different airport service and product factors - from check-in, arrivals, transfer through to departure at the gate.
Operating since 1999, the survey is held in highest esteem for its clarity of process and rigorously applied rules of complete independence. The worldwide survey interviews for the 2009 Awards totalled 8,640,552 - with over 97 different passenger nationalities participating.
"We congratulate Incheon International Airport for achieving this title as World's Best Airport for 2009," said Skytrax chief executive officer Edward Plaisted.
"Incheon is an airport that has been in the global top five ranking for the World Airport Awards during the past five to six years, and it is a great achievement for them to secure this premier mark of customer satisfaction.
"Over the last 10 years, the Skytrax World Airport Awards have become recognised as the trusted, global symbol of quality for airports. Our survey participants represent the most experienced, diverse and discerning travellers in the marketplace. Airports throughout the world recognise the inherent value that comes with the World Airline Awards endorsement."
Commenting on the 2009 World's Best Airport Award, C.W. Lee, president and chief executive of Incheon International Airport Corporation, said: "Incheon International will strive to provide an outstanding safety, convenience and service excellence with elegant cultural touches for our airport customers. In addition, as an airport benchmarked by airports around the world, we will offer a different level of experience and excellence to our customers."
Zurich Airport ranks fourth worldwide, and this year took the title as best Airport Europe, ahead of Munich Airport, fifth. Kansai, sixth and Kuala Lumpur, seventh maintained the same rating position they held in the global Top 10 airports for 2008.
Amsterdam Schiphol returns to the global Top 10 airports, ranking eighth, with Centrair Nagoya entering the top 10 list for the first time, in ninth position ahead of Auckland International Airport in 10th place.