One of the most prestigious aviation rankings, the Skytrax World Airport Award 2021, has once again named Munich home to one of the best airports in the world. 

Skytrax publishes its ranking annually 

Skytrax, which publishes its rankings annually, rates airports on many different criteria, including comfort, cleanliness, customer service and even COVID-19 hygiene protocols. Some of the most improved airports were also praised in the rankings for their work to create a better airport environment. 

While Munich International Airport came in 6th place, other airports in Germany did not fare so well. Hamburg’s airport came in 26th place and Cologne behind in 41st place. Surprisingly, the new Brandenburg Willy Brandt airport in Berlin did not even make it into the world's top 100!

The ranking stressed that in 2021, rating airports is different from most years, given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on air travel. COVID-19 information signage, enforcement of social distancing rules, hygiene and availability of hand sanitiser all played a role in the 2021 ranking. Skytrax also created a separate shortlist for a 2021 COVID-19 Airport Excellence Awards, to honour the airports that are dealing best with the health crisis.

Airports in Asia topped the rankings

Qatar’s only international airport, Doha Hamad came first place in the rankings, followed by other airports in Asia in the top five spots. Tokyo Haneda, Singapore Changi, Seoul Incheon and Tokyo Narita all scored highly for cleanliness, comfort and service, to keep their places in the top 10 from 2020. Munich Airport slipped slightly from its 2020 position of fifth in the world, being overtaken by Tokyo Narita. 

Some of the other interesting winners from Skytrax’s 2021 rankings include Istanbul Airport being crowned the “World’s Most Improved Airport”, Singapore Changi being named as the airport with the “World’s Best Airport Staff” and Guangzhou Baiyun Airport being awarded the “World’s Best Airport in the 35 to 45 million Passenger category”. 

Other European airports to make the top 10 include the Swiss airport of Zurich and London Heathrow, in seventh and eighth place respectively. 

The World's Best Airports in 2021

Wanting to see how your local airport performed? Here’s Skytrax’s top 10 ranking for the World's Best Airports in 2021. 

• 1. Doha Hamad
• 2. Tokyo Haneda
• 3. Singapore Changi
• 4. Seoul Incheon
• 5. Tokyo Narita
• 6. Munich 
• 7. Zurich
• 8. London Heathrow
• 9. Kansai
• 10. Hong Kong

For the full rankings, including the top 100 Best Airports, COVID-19 Excellence Awards and other categories from their 2021 rankings, visit the Skytrax World Airport Awards website.