The World's best International Airports

Kuala Lumpur International Airport


IATA code: KUL
ICAO code: WMKK

Being one of the largest and most important aviation hubs in Asia, Kuala Lumpur International Airport is the main International Airport in Malaysia. Airport is recorded as world's 18th busiest airport by International Passenger Traffic and is 7th busiest Airport in Asia. Located in Sepang district, in the south of state of Selangor about 50km from Kuala Lumpur.

By Craig (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Kuala Lumpur International Airport is capable of handling 3.5 million passengers along with 1.2 million tonnes of cargo a year. Airport is operated by Malaysia Airports ( MAHB ) Sepang Sdn Bhd. The base airlines include the National carrier of Malaysia, Malaysian Airlines and others, Air Asia, Air Asia X, Firefly and MASkargo.

Zurich Airport


IATA code: ZRH
ICAO code: LSZH

Zurich Airport currently ranked 4-Star by Skytrax along with 8 other Airports in the world, is the largest International gateway in Switzerland. Airport is a main hub for Swiss International Airlines. Zurich Airport is also called as Kloten Airport and its located in Canton of Zurich, Switzerland.

There are 3 runways on operation and among which one is unidirectional sitting in towards far north outskirts. In terms of traffic, Zurich Airport handled 22.9 million passengers in 2010. With shutdown of Swissair airport lost lots of traffic until the takeover by Lufthansa.

Checking desks at Zurich Airport

Beijing Capital International Airport



IATA code: PEK
ICAO code: ZBAA

Being the main hub for Air China, Hainan and China Southern Airlines, Beijing Capital Int Airport is located 32 km (20 mi) northeast of Beijing's city center in an enclave of Chaoyang District. It is the main International airport serving Beijing, China. It is the second world's busiest International Airport at present. It is also ranked in top 30 International Airports in Asia in terms of passenger and cargo traffic.

To accommodate the growing traffic volume, Beijing Capital added the enormous Terminal 3 in 2008 in time for the Olympic Games, the second largest airport terminal in the world after Dubai International Airport's Terminal 3, and the fifth largest building in the world by area.

The Condé Nast Traveler magazine named the Beijing Capital International as the World's Best Airport in 2009, based on its multi-criteria satisfaction survey, including factors such as cleanliness, speed of security/immigration clearance, clarity of signs, luggage handling, etc.

Terninal 3

Incheon International Airport

IATA code: ICN
ICAO code: RKSI

Seoul Incheon International Airport is the largest and busiest Airport in South Korea and is among one of the largest and busiest Airports in the world too. Airport was built in artificial land reclaimed in former shallow sea. Located in 43km west of Seoul, the capital and the largest city in South Korea. Incheon Airport is the main hub for Korean Air, Asiana Airlines and Polar Air Cargo.

Incheon International Airport is also currently Asia's 8th airport in terms of passengers, the world's 4th busiest airport by cargo traffic, and the world's 8th in terms of international passengers in 2010.

In terms of the transportation to the Airport, it is connected with a network of bus, limousines and ferry services from almost all parts of South Korea. 

The airport has 35,000 air personnel and 74 boarding gates, with 30 gates in Concourse A and 44 gates in the main terminal. It has received a 5-star ranking by Skytrax because of its elaborate luxury arrangement of casino, spa, golf course, ice skating rink, private sleeping rooms, etc.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol 


IATA code: AMS
ICAO code: EHAM

The 5th busiest Airport in Europe and 15th in World by passenger traffic. Airport is located in south west of Amsterdam, just 20 mins of drive away from Dutch capital. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is the main International Airport in Netherlands. Schiphol has 3 runways for general aircrafts  and it is constructed as single main terminal dividing 3 large departure halls and 4 terminals. 

As per the some records of Schiphol, it handles 240,000 passengers on total of 1016 flights daily. In 2009 statistics, Schiphol's main traffic is from Europe covering 67% of total passengers. Airports was connected 265 destinations during the same year. Schiphol is main hub for  Arkefly, Corendon Dutch Airlines, KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines), Martinair and Transavia.

Departure hall 2

Schiphol Air traffic control Tower with height 101 meters (331 ft ) was world's tallest ATC when it was build in 1991. Shiphol is also world's one of the geographically low lying commercial airports as the entire airport is below the sea level.

Munich Airport


IATA code: MUC
ICAO code: EDDM

Inaugurated in 17 May 1992, being the second busiest Airport in Germany and 12th in the world, in terms of international passenger traffic, Munich Airport is located in 28.5 km (17.7 mi) northeast of Munich, Germany, and is a hub for Lufthansa and Star Alliance partner airlines. The Airport covers 760,000 sq km of area facilitating 75 aircraft parking positions and 47 Boarding Stations, 24 passenger bridges and 4 stands for regional jets. 

Munich Airport has already won the title of "Europe's Best Airport" 2010 and four years in a row from 2005 to 2008. 

By the year 2010, Munich Airport ranked as World's 30th busiest Airport and in 2011, it was named the best airport in entire Europe and fourth in the world by Skytrax. 

Arrival at Munich Airport

Copenhagen Airport



IATA code: CPH
ICAO code: EKCH

Since its inauguration in 1925, as one of the world's first civilian airports, it has today became the largest and busiest airports in Nordic countries and listed as oldest airports in entire Europe. Located at the island of Amager, it not only serves the Copenhagen as international Airport, but also serves Demark itself and Oresund Region. Copenhagen Intl Airport has got one of the world's largest duty free shopping facilities today.

Photo by Peter Thorell

Airport is owned by Københavns Lufthavne, it is the main hub for Scandinavian Airlines, Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia, Cimber Sterling and Norwegian Air Shuttle. Looking into the statistics, it has 60 scheduled airlines handling 60, 000 passengers per day . The Airport has space for accommodating 108 airplanes at same time.

Copenhagen Intl Airport is only 8 kilometers away from the Copenhagen city center. The Malmo city center lies 24 kilometers to its east, on the other end of the Oresund Bridge.

checking area CPH

Hong Kong International Airport


IATA code: HKG
ICAO code: VHHH

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is located on the island of Chek Lap Kokless. Just less than five flying hours from half of the world's population. It is third busiest international passenger airport and operate the busiest international cargo facility in the world. Airport was inaugurated in July 1998. Airport was originally designed by British architect Lord Norman Foster. Today, The Hong Kong International Airport is considered as  not only the world's largest but also most modern and technologically well-equipped airports ever built in the 20th century. 

Hong Kong International Airport Aerial view

Hong Kong International Airport is connected to about 160 destinations, including around 45 in the Mainland, through about 900 daily flights by over 95 airlines.

Inside terminal 1

Terminal 1 exterior

There are  two-terminal and two-runway facility contributing to the economic growth for Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region. Today, the 65,000-strong airport community serves as the key contributor to Hong Kong's position as a leading international and regional aviation centre.

Outside night view of Airport 

Singapore Changi Airport

IATA code: SIN

ICAO code: WSSS

Changi Airport is the main aviation hub in Singapore and even in entire South East Asia. Since its beginning in 1981, Changi Airport is world's most awarded " Best Airport". With many other achievements including World's best Airport from Business Traveller (UK) in 1988. 

According to the records of September 2010, Singapore Changi Airport serves over 100 airlines connecting 200 cities across 60 countries and international destinations. This makes it the 18th busiest airport in the world and also the fifth busiest in Asia.

Duty free shopping

Terminal 3

Abu Dhabi International Airport

IATA code: AUH

ICAO code: OMAA

Operating since 1982, Abu Dhabi International Airport is the second largest airport in the United Arab Emirates. It serves as the base and hub airport for Etihad Airways, the fast-growing national flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates, owned by the Government of Abu Dhabi.

Refurbished Terminal 1

The capital city’s airport consists of three terminals with a joint handling capacity of around 12 million passengers annually. The Midfield Terminal Complex (MTC), which is currently under development, will have an initial capacity of 27 million passengers annually.

Refurbished terminal 1 

The airport provides a wide range of services to passengers that ensure efficient ground operations and satisfaction, 109 check-in desks, 21 gates, 8 baggage claim belts, 4000 parking spaces for short and long term parking, along with a state-of-the-art duty-free area, lounges and hotel.

Currently, more than 50 airlines operate from Abu Dhabi International Airport, serving more than 80 destinations in 46 different countries across the globe. 

Air Traffic Control ( ATC )

Future Developments

Sources: [ Wikipedia ] [ flicker ] [ hottnez.com ] [ Abu Dhabi International Airport] [ Hong Kong International Airport ] [ cph.dk ]