The best airports in the world – according to Oaklands Global.g Director of Oaklands Global

There are several surveys out there already which have looked at what makes an airport more than just a transport hub. They often consider factors such as size, passenger capacity, levels of luxury and architectural design. Many pilots and cabin crew may also have their own favourites for more personal reasons.

We’re putting our perspective on things. Here, we reveal the top five international airports in the opinion of the Oaklands Global team.

Haneda International Airport in Tokyo.

This airport played a huge role in expanding Japan’s tourism-oriented offering. Traditionally, Haneda Airport handled domestic flights with Narita Airport, 50 miles east of Tokyo. But this changed in 2010 when Haneda opened an international terminal which now regularly runs flights to Europe, America and throughout Asia. Sushi, anyone?

Doha Hamad International Airport in Qatar.

The architecture of this seriously impressive airport makes it worthy of a position on our top five list. The beauty continues inside too as it provides some of the ultimate luxury elements which many travellers could only dream of. Opening in 2014, it offers a Vitality pool with a Jacuzzi overlooking the runway, high-end showers with spa toiletries or, if you have time in between flights, a free tour of the city. Or, admire the surroundings from one of the many bars and restaurants, such as the gold-plated coffee bar.

Munich Airport in Germany.

There’s always a pretty reasonable selection of places to eat and drink at larger airports. However, Munich caters for every possible taste in both food and fashion with 50 places to dine and around 150 places to indulge in retail therapy. This is much more than most and it will definitely help time to fly before you do.

Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam.

We’re all used to grabbing some food and browsing the duty free before take-off. However, Amsterdam offers travellers the opportunity to visit a library and snuggle up with a good book before heading to the departure gate. Opening in 2010, it was the world’s first permanent airport library with 1,200 books translated into 29 languages. There are also e-books and music which can be downloaded to take with you, free of charge.

Changi Airport in Singapore.

This beauty often scores highly with travellers and experts alike – it has consecutively been the Skytrax World’s Best Airport since 2013 and recently took the title again for 2019. This sits alongside over 590 other awards it has received. From a range of interactive children’s attractions to Singapore’s largest hedge maze and the Rain Vortex, which is the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, it is a complete holiday in itself.

Want to experience some of the world’s most amazing airports for yourself? Consider a career in aviation or taking your current role to new heights – browse our latest vacancies here.

by William Finden

William Finden is the Founder and MD of Oaklands Global. He is a seasoned executive search and recruitment specialist with over 16 years of experience, dedicated to the international aviation & aerospace markets. William leads Oaklands Global’s C-Suite practice and has had a successful career delivering at the executive level for a diverse portfolio of clientele including Business Jet Operators, OEM’s, MRO’s, FBO’s Airlines and Rotary businesses. To learn more about how William can assist with your next career move or to discuss your next director level hire please contact him by email: william.finden@oaklandsglobal.com