Changi Airport top, Manila rated worst in Asia

Changi Airport ranked as one of the world's top three airports, according to a vote held by an interactive website. -- FILE PHOTO: ST

MANILA - AN INTERACTIVE website has voted the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) one of the world's 10 worst airports and the worst in Asia in 2010, with travellers describing it as 'a bombed-out ruin' and 'a cattle yard, only worse'.

The website, 'The Guide to Sleeping in Airports', ranked the Manila airports, particularly NAIA Terminal 1, fifth worst in the world, behind two in France, including Charles De Gaulle in Paris, and the Los Angeles and Moscow airports.

The ranking was based on reviews of air travellers who complained, among other things, of 'safety concerns, lack of comfortable seating, rude staff, hostile security, poor facilities, no (or few) services to pass the time, bribery and general hassles of being in the airport.'

Two lists of the best and the worst airports are updated annually by the website which travel agent Donna McSherry started in 1996.

NAIA actually rose two places in the list. In 2009, it was ranked seventh worst in the world. Two other Asian airports made it to the worst list in 2010, both from India, in New Delhi and Bombay at sixth and eighth, respectively.

On the other hand, the world's three best airports in 2010, according to the website, were also in Asia: Singapore Changi, Seoul Incheon and Hong Kong, the same top three the previous year. -- PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER/ANN