Airports have come a long way since the early days of aviation. Nowadays, the world’s busiest airports handle hundreds — in some cases, thousands — of arrivals and departures each day. Some airports go above and beyond to make the experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible for passengers. A 2024 report from AirHelp, a company that helps passengers get compensation for flight disruptions, analyzed more than 17,000 airports worldwide based on on-time performance, customer service, and the quality of dining and shopping options. Here are the top 10 best airports in the world, according to the report.
10. Tokyo-Narita International Airport – Japan
Serving the world’s most populous city, Narita is the second-busiest airport in Japan behind Haneda Airport, Tokyo’s other major gateway. Tokyo-Narita International ranks at No. 10 on the list of world’s best airports, with its highest marks coming from the customer service category. That score was based on results from a survey of thousands of passengers about airport staff, wait times, and cleanliness. If you plan to join the record number of people visiting Japan, the airport’s high ranking should come as welcome news.
9. Belém Val-de-Cans Airport – Brazil
Belém is the largest city in Brazil’s northern state of Pará, serving as a gateway to the Amazon River, the planet’s second-longest river. Though it’s far from Brazil’s busiest airport, the airport provides a reliable and pleasant experience for passengers heading to destinations in Brazil and neighboring South American countries.
8. Salt Lake City International Airport – Utah
Salt Lake City International was the only U.S. airport to land in the top 10 ranking of the world’s best airports, thanks in large part to its brand-new terminal facility that opened its first phase in 2020. Not only did the project boost the airport’s capacity, but it also gave passengers a major upgrade when it came to amenities, including new local dining options, 50-foot-tall windows to provide more natural light, and a 27,000-square-foot premium lounge with an outdoor deck. As one of the most on-time airports in the U.S., Salt Lake City got the majority of passengers off the ground on time in 2024.
7. Muscat International Airport – Oman
The main gateway to the Middle East country of Oman, Muscat International debuted a brand-new airport terminal in 2018, which allowed the airport to expand its capacity to handle over 20 million passengers annually. Chances are, most of those passengers will leave the airport with a good impression — Muscat landed at No. 7 in the rankings of world’s best airports.
6. Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport – South Africa
One of two airports in South Africa to make the list, Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport is named after Oliver Tambo, a prominent anti-apartheid politician and activist. As the main hub for South African Airways, the airport is the second-busiest airport in Africa. Serving around 25 million passengers annually, Johannesburg’s airport has an impressive track record when it comes to on-time performance and customer service.
5. Brasília International Airport – Brazil
Brazil is one of a handful of countries that has relocated capitals over the years, choosing in 1960 to move from coastal Rio de Janeiro to Brasília, a purpose-built new capital in the center of the country. Interestingly, from the air, the planned city looks like the shape of an airplane — which is perhaps fitting for a city that proudly hosts the fifth-best airport in the world, according to the AirHelp report.
4. Osaka Itami Airport – Japan
Osaka’s Itami Airport is significantly smaller than the city’s primary international gateway, Kansai Airport, but it more than makes up for its size with its high marks from travelers. Itami primarily serves domestic destinations in Japan and is the closest airport to Kyoto, one of Japan’s most popular tourist destinations. In Kyoto, travelers can wander charming streets lined with traditional architecture, admire hundreds of temples, and visit an ethereal (and highly popular) bamboo forest located just outside the city center.
3. Nagoya Chubu Airport – Japan
Chubu Airport serves as the main international gateway for the central (Chubu) region of Japan, which is home to Nagoya, the country’s fourth-biggest city. The airport scored high marks across the board, particularly when it came to customer opinion of its cleanliness, staff, and wait times. Chubu Airport was built on an artificial island off the coast and opened in 2005.
2. Cape Town International Airport – South Africa
Thanks to its stunning coastal scenery, Cape Town is one of Africa’s most popular cities to visit, and, luckily, those who do should have a seamless experience transiting through the city’s primary international gateway. In addition to flights to dozens of destinations in Africa, Cape Town International Airport offers nonstop flights to Atlanta, Newark, and Washington, D.C. — which are some of the longest flights in the world.
1. Doha Hamad Airport – Qatar
The world’s best airport for 2024 is Qatar’s Doha Hamad International Airport, one of the busiest hubs in the Middle East. Hamad Airport achieved high marks in customer opinion surveys and saw strong on-time performance, but travelers were particularly impressed by its expansive amenities. The architecturally stunning terminal, which debuted in 2014, boasts a 65,000-square-foot shopping and dining complex called the Orchard, which features more than 25,000 live plants.
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