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Business Insider
07-05-2025
- Business Insider
Top 10 most luxurious airports in the world
These airports are no longer just transit points—they are luxury destinations in their own right, turning mundane layovers into opulent experiences that travellers might not want to end. Some airports worldwide are transforming layovers into luxury experiences with amenities like rooftop pools, spas, and designer shopping. Dubai International Airport leads global rankings with features like zen gardens, gourmet dining, luxury duty-free shops, and a five-star hotel. Other airports, such as Doha, Paris CDG, and Singapore Changi, provide signature attractions like iconic sculptures, art museums, and indoor waterfalls. Airports that redefine the travel experience While most travellers consider airports a stressful necessity filled with overpriced snacks and endless queues, some elite global terminals have transformed this perception. These airports offer more than just functional services—they deliver extravagant experiences that rival five-star resorts. From rooftop pools to designer boutiques and private spas, these hubs elevate "airport time" into a highlight of the journey. In an era where flight delays are increasingly common, these terminals offer sanctuary, indulgence, and even reasons to arrive early—or miss a flight altogether. How the rankings were determined Based on an extensive review of over 1,800 airports worldwide, researchers identified 69 luxury contenders—each boasting a minimum of 10 premium lounges. Here are the top 10 global leaders in luxury aviation: 1. Dubai International Airport (DXB) – Luxury Score: 83/100 Leading the global rankings, Dubai International Airport embodies the UAE's dedication to luxury and innovation. With a five-star hotel inside the terminal, passengers can unwind in zen gardens, take a dip in the outdoor pool, watch a film at the cinema, or dine at gourmet restaurants. The vast duty-free zone even offers luxury cars and rare spirits. Its towering palm trees and open spaces create an oasis amid the airport bustle. 2. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) – Luxury Score: 82/100 Just one point behind DXB, Heathrow remains Europe's busiest airport and a luxury leader. Terminal 5 houses brands like Cartier, Gucci, and Chanel. With 43 lounges—many with private suites and spa treatments —Heathrow offers premium comfort. The Concorde Room and Windsor Suite cater to the elite, including royalty and celebrities, offering discretion and exclusivity. 3. Hamad International Airport, Doha (DOH) – Luxury Score: 73/100 Qatar's flagship airport features water-inspired architecture, high-end retailers like Hermès and Tiffany & Co., and an iconic 23-foot bronze teddy bear sculpture by Urs Fischer. The Al Mourjan Business Lounge is vast, while sleeping pods with ensuite bathrooms revolutionise layover experiences. Hamad International Airport, Doha 4. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) – Luxury Score: 66/100 With Parisian charm and efficiency, CDG offers designer shopping from Louis Vuitton to Dior, an airport art museum, and Guerlain spa treatments. Terminal 2E's elegant design and La Belle Époque restaurant, which serves vintage champagne, elevate the travel experience. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport 5. Sydney International Airport (SYD) – Luxury Score: 61/100 Oceania's top luxury hub blends historical significance with modern style. The Qantas First Lounge features a vertical garden, spa, and menu by chef Neil Perry. With Cartier and Armani boutiques, SYD also boasts a striking runway that extends into Botany Bay. 6. Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) – Luxury Score: 59/100 Home to the world's tallest indoor waterfall, Changi's Jewel complex also houses themed gardens, a rooftop pool, and free movie theatres. The airport's lounges offer chef-prepared meals, full-body massages, and tranquil relaxation pods for premium passengers. 7. Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok (BKK) – Luxury Score: 57/100 A blend of modern and traditional Thai design, BKK features luxury retail, the world's tallest control tower, and cultural experiences like traditional massages and craft demonstrations. Its massive single-building terminal is an architectural marvel. 8. Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) – Luxury Score: 54/100 Built on reclaimed land, HKG includes an IMAX cinema, golf course, and exclusive luxury shopping. The Cathay Pacific Pier First Class Lounge offers private cabanas, massages, and personal assistants, while the Peninsula Hotel provides concierge services with Rolls-Royce transfers. Hong Kong International Airport 9. Frankfurt Airport (FRA) – Luxury Score: 51/100 DON'T MISS THIS: West Africa's air transport still the costliest globally – ECOWAS official warns Germany's busiest airport and Lufthansa's hub showcases precision luxury. Passengers can browse luxury car showrooms, while the Lufthansa First Class Terminal provides bathtub suites, personal assistants, and even collectible rubber ducks. 10. Narita International Airport, Tokyo (NRT) – Luxury Score: 48/100 Narita excels in cultural refinement. It pioneered the capsule hotel concept for jet-lag recovery and offers tatami meditation rooms, sake tastings, and tea ceremony demonstrations. Shopping options include exclusive electronics and traditional crafts unique to Japan. Narita International Airport Conclusion
The Independent
17-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Dublin, Amsterdam and Spain dominate top Easter holiday destinations
Dublin is way ahead of cities worldwide as the leading destination for Easter travel from the UK, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. During the Easter weekend, 11,282 flights are scheduled to depart UK airports, with more than two million seats. Good Friday is projected to be the busiest day of the weekend, with 2,949 departures – an average of one flight taking off from a UK airport every 30 seconds. More flights will be going to Dublin than anywhere else. Almost 70,000 passengers are heading for the Irish capital between Good Friday and Easter Monday – more than those going to Paris, Madrid and Rome combined. In the top 30 compiled exclusively for The Independen t, Amsterdam takes second place. The Irish and Dutch capitals are followed by the three most popular Spanish airports – Alicante, Malaga and Palma – and, in sixth place, Dubai. Faro, the gateway to the Portuguese Algarve, appears at seventh. Tenerife and Barcelona are eighth and ninth respectively, with Paris CDG taking 10th place. Spain is by far the most popular destination, taking five of the top 10 spots, The remainder of the top 30 provides some intriguing revelations. Turkey is well represented, with Antalya at 11 and Istanbul at 16. The second Turkish Riviera airport, Dalaman, takes 25th spot. The top long-haul destination, Dubai, has almost 50 per cent more capacity than New York – the only US city to appear, in 12th place. But British travellers take Manhattan well ahead of Berlin; the German capital has barely half as many departing seats and appears at 26th. Top ski airport is Geneva, in 13th, with Doha – hub for Qatar Airways – one place behind. In the lower half of the table, five capitals occupy 18th to 22nd positions: Madrid Lisbon Copenhagen Rome Budapest Next along is Krakow in Poland, which remarkably attracts more travellers than the Czech capital, Prague. The final four places in the top 30 are taken by Athens, Nice, Munich and Gran Canaria. Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of the Advantage Travel Partnership, said: 'The robustness of the desire to travel by the British public demonstrates the industry's agility to deliver what UK consumers are looking for. 'City breaks across our travel agent partners are strong for Easter and have proved a popular option for families and couples. With Easter falling later this year, we have also seen greater demand, with late bookings accounting for approximately 40 per cent of total sales – an indication that families are perhaps choosing to travel over Easter rather than at the peak of the summer months.' Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said: 'The Easter period is mostly about short-haul breaks in Europe. 'Except for year-round perennial favourite Dubai, every other destination in the top 10 for seats from the UK is in Europe, proving that closer is more practical and usually more affordable for most British travellers. 'One thing you can guarantee as well is how full these flights will be, so do check in two hours before your flight is due to depart because airports will be very busy.' All the leading holiday airports except Edinburgh have told The Independent their busiest day will be Friday 18 April; at the Scottish capital's airport, Sunday will see the most passengers. Edinburgh is the destination for the most popular domestic route, British Airways from London Heathrow. BA also takes the next three places, with links from Heathrow to Glasgow, Belfast City and Aberdeen. 30 busiest international destinations by seats (scheduled to depart from UK airports over the Easter weekend, 18–21 April) Dublin: 69,217 Amsterdam: 59,631 Alicante: 45,364 Malaga: 45,123 Palma: 42,830 Dubai: 40,417 Faro: 37,580 Tenerife: 36,650 Barcelona: 33,838 Paris: 30,659 Antalya: 29,109 New York: 27,440 Geneva: 27,233 Doha: 24,507 Lanzarote: 23,439 Istanbul: 22,662 Frankfurt: 20,972 Madrid: 20,436 Lisbon: 20,285 Copenhagen: 18,217 Rome: 17,967 Budapest: 16,815 Krakow: 16,512 Prague: 15,846 Dalaman: 15,445 Berlin: 15,379 Athens: 15,272 Nice: 14,929 Munich: 14,605 Gran Canaria: 14,402 10 busiest UK domestic routes by seats (scheduled to depart from UK airports over the Easter weekend, 18–21 April) Heathrow to Edinburgh: 7,353 seats Heathrow to Glasgow: 6,616 seats Heathrow to Belfast (BHD): 4,458 seats Heathrow to Aberdeen: 4,178 seats Stansted to Edinburgh: 4,128 seats Stansted to Belfast (BFS): 3,939 seats Manchester to Belfast (BFS): 3,867 seats Manchester to Heathrow: 3,738 seats Belfast (BFS) to Edinburgh: 3,711 seats Gatwick to Jersey: 3,501 seats
The Independent
23-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Power play: how the Heathrow shutdown hit passengers at home and away
Each of the quarter-million passengers whose travel plans were wrecked by the sudden closure of Heathrow airport on Friday simply wanted to reach the destination on their ticket. There was no good way to learn that wasn't going to happen due to a fire in an electricity substation that had cut power to Europe's busiest airport. For the 30,000 bleary passengers or so aboard overnight flights to west of central London, it was an announcement from the pilot saying the plane was diverting to some corner of a foreign airfield: possibly Reykjavik, maybe Cairo. Even worse, perhaps: that after four hours of flying towards London, a swift U-turn as the aircraft returned to its starting point, whether in Delhi or New York. Back to square one. Another 100,000 never made it beyond square one. These were the people who were booked on flights from Heathrow. Many had begun their journey to the airport in the small hours of Friday, only to receive the brutal message: 'We're really sorry that your upcoming flight on Friday 21 March 2025 has been cancelled.' Joy and excitement crushed in an instant. An equal and opposite number of travellers constituted a foreign legion, scattered across airports around the world. Some were returning home from holidays or busiest trips; others were overseas visitors to the UK. Perhaps a few were happy; had I been a British Airways passenger from Singapore, and rebooked three days later, I might have enjoyed the airline's obligation to provide a hotel room and meals for an extended stay. But the vast majority were somewhere on the spectrum from disappointment to distress. Beyond the personal stories of upset, the airlines are seething. The collective financial hit from lost revenue, care costs and the expense of retrieving aircraft from the many and various locations where they landed in a hurry on Friday morning is, I estimate conservatively, £100m. More than half of that loss will be sustained by British Airways. Longer term, BA will take a reputational hit even though the latest meltdown was way beyond its control. For British Airways, transfer passengers comprise an essential part of the business mix. Heathrow airport is in competition against the key continental hubs: Amsterdam, Paris CDG and Frankfurt… where champagne corks were popping on Friday night after another Great British meltdown. If the UK's flagship airport gets (more of) a reputation for chaos, then travellers who have a choice of how to get from Athens to Atlanta will choose another route. You can tell things are going really badly when BA suspends its 'middle-seat empty' policy in Club Europe to free up more seats for stranded passengers. The last time it happened? When recovering the Nats air-traffic control computer failure over the August bank holiday in 2023. Once again, the UK looks a bit of a laughing stock. Any more of this and I will start a line of travel chaos T-shirts: choose between 'Stranded in Shannon, 21 March 2025' and '24 hours in Gatwick, August 2023'. There is no slack in the system, and once again the passenger pays the price. Simon Calder, also known as The Man Who Pays His Way, has been writing about travel for The Independent since 1994. In his weekly opinion column, he explores a key travel issue – and what it means for you.
