Travel news, reviews and intel for high-flyers

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

by Fergus Cole

February 26, 2024

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:

RankAirportCountryRating
1Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport (HAN)Vietnam6.80
2Singapore
Changi (SIN)
Singapore6.63
3Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)China6.48
4Hamad International Airport (DOH)Qatar6.44
5Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL)Finland6.36
6Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT)Japan6.23
7Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)Japan5.82
8Kempegowda International Airport (BLR)India5.56
9Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)Taiwan5.29
10Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM)India5.22

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:

RankAirportCountryRating
1Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL)Belgium1.20
2Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)Germany1.56
3Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)UK1.57
4Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)US1.64
5Manchester Airport (MAN)UK1.68
6London Luton Airport (LTN)UK1.69
6Kuwait International Airport Airport (KWI)Kuwait1.69
8East Midlands Airport (EMA)UK1.70
9London Stansted Airport (STN)UK1.71
10Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)US1.73

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.:

RankAirportRating
1Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)4.37
2Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)3.78
3Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)3.07
4Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)3.05
5Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)2.77
6Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)2.75
7Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)2.73
8Miami International Airport (MIA)2.70
9Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)2.68
10San 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).