AirHelp Score 2023 winners: Top 10 airports in the world

We’ve put our extensive data to good use once again to reveal the top 10 international airports in the world in our newly-released 2023’s AirHelp Score. Our renowned annual ranking is based on 3 metrics: on-time performance, customer opinion, and the quality of their food and shops.

This year was especially competitive. We analyzed 194 airports around the world — about 60 more than we did last year — meaning that many are ranking on the list for the very first time, bumping aside some old favorites to rise to the top.

10. Amami Airport (ASJ)

Located on the Japanese island of Amami Oshima, Amami Airport is one of the new additions to the Score and takes the 10th spot overall with a score of 8.27 out of 10. Like many Japanese airports, it performs particularly well when it comes to punctuality.

Amami Airport’s shops feature a wide variety of local island specialities, including shochu, a distilled beverage, tsumugi goods — items made from silk fabric — and of course, their famous Mabe pearls, sourced from Japan’s largest pearl oysters. Definitely a souvenir worth looking into if you ever find yourself at the Amami Airport!

9. Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT)

Tokyo Narita consistently takes a spot among the top 10 best airports in the world, and for good reason — it scores well across the board, with great on-time performance, stellar customer reviews, and a wonderful selection of food and shops. Its AirHelp Score this year is 8.31 out of 10.

8. Belo Horizonte Tancredo Neves International Airport (CNF)

Again managing to carve out a spot this year among the best airports in the world is Belo Horizonte International Airport, scoring 8.35 in the AirHelp Score. Thanks to a major renovation before the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the airport now boasts bright, spacious interiors where thousands of people can eat, rest, and shop while they wait for their flight. Passengers are spoilt for choice when it comes to food — you can find anything from fast food to gourmet cuisine made from locally-sourced ingredients from all over Minas Gerais.

7. Belém/Val-de-Cans International Airport (BEL)

Another newcomer on our list with an admirable score of 8.48 out of 10 is the Val-de-Cans International Airport, which serves Belém, Brazil. This airport has a storied history — it began in 1934 as a small military airport. After the outbreak of World War II, it served as a major transportation hub for Canadian and US made aircraft and equipment, delivering them across the South Atlantic Ocean to Sierra Leone, West Africa.

By 1959, the airport started shifting to more general airline use, operating commercial flights. It has since turned into an international passenger airport, but still shares facilities with the Brazilian Air Force to this day.

6. Osaka Itami International Airport (ITM)

Itami Airport is a regional airport serving the Kansai region has an overall score of 8.37 out of 10. Most impressive of all is its on-time performance of 8.7, which means it’s 2024’s most punctual airport! This is not surprising, as many of the Japanese airports we’ve reviewed so far have impressive punctuality scores — but Itami Airport beat them all to rise to the top!

It is also Japan’s 3rd busiest airport behind Tokyo Narita and Haneda airport, and a major gateway for international passengers headed to Osaka.

5. Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH)

With an overall AirHelp score of 8.41 out of 10, the Doha Hamad International airport is known for its state-of-the-art facilities, including high-end shopping and restaurant options, charging stations, spacious seating, and clean, modern bathrooms.

Best of all, DOH is one of the few airports that has its own indoor park so you can enjoy a bit of peace and quiet in nature while you wait for your flight. Maybe that’s why its customer opinion score at 8.7 is so high!

4. Brasília–Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport (BSB)

Named after the 21st president of Brazil, Juscelino Kubitschek, Brasilia International Airport serves Brasília and is one of the largest airports in South America. It comes in 4th place this year with an AirHelp Score of 8.43 out of 10, scoring particularly well for on-time performance.

Clean, modern, and organized, passengers praise its ease of use, and the many tropical plants dotting the airport terminal. The airport was designed with flow in mind, making it easy to make your way to your gate, while also having everything you need conveniently spaced along the way — such as shops, restaurants, and toilets.

3. Cape Town International Airport (CPT)

Cape Town International Airport in South Africa is among the busiest international airports on the African continent, serving over 10 million passengers annually. It links Cape Town not only with Johannesburg and Durban, but serves as a gateway to the rest of the world too.

It is modern, spacious, and clean, offering world-class duty-free shopping and a variety of restaurants and shops to choose from. The airport also regularly features art created by both local and international artists, the most popular of which was the Mandela memorial tapestry unveiled in 2015, entitled “Flying Madiba”, designed by acclaimed Czech artist Peter Sis and woven by Atelier Pinton.

With an impressive AirHelp Score of 8.48, it’s no wonder CPT makes it into the top 3 in our list of best airports in the world.

2. Recife/Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC)

Once again coming in at 2nd place with an impressive AirHelp Score of 8.49 out of 10 is Brazil’s Recife/Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre International Airport. With a capacity for over 8 million passengers, Recife features numerous shops and restaurants where you can try anything from fast food to Brazil’s best local cuisine. REC is also a major cargo hub, delivering packages and parcels across the country.

1. Muscat International Airport (MCT)

So if you’ve been wondering which is the best airport in the world, look no further than Muscat International Airport in Oman. A newcomer to the AirHelp Score, it not only takes the overall top spot with a truly impressive score of 8.54 out of 10, but it also scores highest overall in both customer satisfaction and in shops, scoring 8.7 and 8.9 in each respective category.

This airport serves Oman’s capital, Muscat, and features beautiful modern architecture that features over 20 façade types, including vertical glazed walls, skylights, glazed bridges, and standing seam roofs. It’s especially lauded for its opulent, comfortable lounges that make for a truly restful stay while you wait for your flight.

Congrats to this year’s winners!

That wraps up our list of the best airports in the world for 2023. Next time you fly, make sure to have a look around and enjoy your brief stay! Here’s to many great trips in 2024!

Did you also know that you can claim compensation for delayed, cancelled, or overbooked flights from up to 3 years ago? AirHelp is here to help you check if your flight is eligible — it’s quick, easy, and totally risk-free!