The Hamad International Airport (HIA) has been acknowledged as the Best Airport in the Middle East by the 2016 Skytrax World Airport Awards for the second consecutive year at a ceremony held during the Passenger Terminal Expo in Cologne, Germany.
At the same time, the HIA became the first airport in the Middle East to make it to the world’s top 10 best airports at the Skytrax awards, considered the most prestigious recognition of quality for airports across the world.
The HIA also won the award for Best Staff Service in the Middle East.
Akbar al-Baker, Qatar Airways Group chief executive, said, “Being named the Best Airport in the Middle East for the second year running is a major accomplishment for Hamad International Airport, the home of Qatar Airways.
“To be announced as the first airport in the Middle East to be listed among the top 10 world-ranking airports is a great honour, and is testament to the satisfaction that global travellers feel when they are going places through one of the most advanced and passenger-focused airports in the world.
“We will continue working with all our passengers and partners to ensure that Hamad International Airport remains among the world’s best.”
Attending the awards, Badr Mohamed al-Meer, COO of Hamad International Airport, said, “It is a great privilege to be named the Middle East’s Best Airport by Skytrax for the second year running. More importantly, we are delighted to see that within less than two years since HIA’s opening, our airport is considered among the top 10 best airports in the world, rising from position 75 in 2014 and reflecting HIA’s position as a leading international aviation hub.
“This prestigious accolade follows a year of significant milestones achieved by HIA: Crossing the 30mn passenger threshold while offering award-winning passenger services and adding more space with the opening of concourses D and E.
“We are, of course, most grateful to our staff and partners, as well as the State of Qatar, who continue to give us their strongest support in delivering a top-quality passenger experience at all times. I would like to dedicate the Best Staff Service award to them for their outstanding teamwork.”
The World Airport Awards are voted by customers in the largest annual global airport customer satisfaction survey. The survey and awards process are totally independent and guaranteed free of any airport influence or interference in the final results.
The World Airport Awards are based on 12.85mn customer nominations across 110 nationalities of air travellers, and includes 410 airports worldwide. The survey evaluates customer satisfaction across 39 key performance indicators for airport service and product: From check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, security and immigration, through to departure at the gate.