From Hanoi to Chicago: Top-10 Airports for Business Travelers
Chicago Midway International was revealed as the best airport for business travelers in the U.S., while Hanoi's Noi Bai International is the best overall
Photo: Courtesy of Denver International Airport.
While the number of people who travel for business worldwide is far less than those who travel for leisure, business travelers contribute significant revenue to the air travel industry. For this reason, both airlines and airports go out of their way to accommodate these passengers as efficiently and comfortably as possible, although some are better than others.
And with business travel finally making a strong comeback from the pandemic, a recent report from BusinessFinancing.co.uk has revealed the world’s best and worst airports—as determined by business travelers.
The U.K.-based website’s team analyzed thousands of passenger reviews from verified business travelers on Skytrax’s Airline Quality platform, calculating the average ratings for major international airports worldwide.
Asia Leads the Charts
Unfortunately, its findings don’t make great reading for American business travelers, with the world’s 20 worst airports dominated by no less than seven U.S. airports.
Meanwhile, the world’s best airports were dominated by those in Asia.
Photo: Hanoi International Airport. Courtesy of Duc Van on Unsplash
At the top of the list is Vietnam’s Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport (HAN), with an average rating of 6.8/10. This is the main airport serving the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, and has been praised by business travelers for its stunning observation deck, extreme cleanliness, friendly staff, and excellent food choices.
In second place is Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), consistently rated as one of the world’s best, followed by Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) in third place.
Top-10 best airports in the world:
| Rank | Airport | Country | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) | Vietnam | 6.80 |
| 2 | Singapore Changi (SIN) | Singapore | 6.63 |
| 3 | Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) | China | 6.48 |
| 4 | Hamad International Airport (DOH) | Qatar | 6.44 |
| 5 | Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) | Finland | 6.36 |
| 6 | Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) | Japan | 6.23 |
| 7 | Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) | Japan | 5.82 |
| 8 | Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) | India | 5.56 |
| 9 | Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) | Taiwan | 5.29 |
| 10 | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) | India | 5.22 |
At the other end of the scale, Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL) in Belgium was revealed as the world’s worst airport for business travelers.
Charleroi is not the Belgian capital’s primary airport. It is a hub for low-cost carriers, but passengers have complained about cramped conditions and having to pay to use the restrooms.
Berlin Brandenburg BER Willy Brandt Airport Terminal 1 in Germany / Photo: Markus Mainka/Adobe Stock
The world’s second worst airport for business travelers is Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), followed by Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) in the U.K.
Top-10 worst airports in the world:
| Rank | Airport | Country | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL) | Belgium | 1.20 |
| 2 | Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) | Germany | 1.56 |
| 3 | Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) | UK | 1.57 |
| 4 | Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) | US | 1.64 |
| 5 | Manchester Airport (MAN) | UK | 1.68 |
| 6 | London Luton Airport (LTN) | UK | 1.69 |
| 6 | Kuwait International Airport Airport (KWI) | Kuwait | 1.69 |
| 8 | East Midlands Airport (EMA) | UK | 1.70 |
| 9 | London Stansted Airport (STN) | UK | 1.71 |
| 10 | Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) | US | 1.73 |
In the U.S., Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) was revealed as the best for business travelers, with an average score of 4.37/10.
While O’Hare International (ORD) is the dominant airport in the Chicago area regarding passenger numbers, Midway is undergoing significant development that has seen numerous new dining and retail outlets opening. Passengers also praised it for its flight selection and quick TSA security checks.
Top-10 best airports in the U.S.:
| Rank | Airport | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) | 4.37 |
| 2 | Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) | 3.78 |
| 3 | Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) | 3.07 |
| 4 | Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) | 3.05 |
| 5 | Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) | 2.77 |
| 6 | Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) | 2.75 |
| 7 | Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) | 2.73 |
| 8 | Miami International Airport (MIA) | 2.70 |
| 9 | Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) | 2.68 |
| 10 | San Francisco International Airport (SFO) | 2.16 |
And Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) was revealed as a place to avoid, ranking as the worst airport in the U.S. with an average rating of just 1.64/10. Passengers complained about its dirty carpets, ever-increasing waiting times, and lack of toilets, among other things.
Photo: Courtesy of Newark Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is also not highly thought of among business travelers, coming in as the second worst U.S. airport, followed by Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) in third place.
The other U.S. airports to make the world’s worst 20 are Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), and Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT).
