CANADIAN AIRPORTS DO WELL IN ACI AWARDS

Posted on 03/01/2016 | About Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

The latest annual rankings by Airports Council International are out and Canadian airports fared well.   Saskatoon International Airport (YXE) nabbed the “most improved airport” in North America, Ottawa (YOW) placed second in the Best Airport in North America and Toronto Billy Bishop (YTZ) was third in the same category.

Other airports similarly lauded by the trade association as “most improved” were Nairobi, Kenya (most improved in Africa); Denpasar, Bali (Asia-Pacific); Istanbul (Europe); Kingston, Jamaica (Latin America-Caribbean); and Dammam, Saudi Arabia (Middle East).

Stephen Maybury, president and CEO of Saskatoon Airport Authority, said “significant investments'” have been made at his airport to improve conditions for passengers.

“Completion of the $53-million terminal expansion in early 2015 has created space for guests to be comfortable and to enjoy the new experiences the airport has to offer,” he said Monday in a release. Further improvements are planned to parking and other terminal services.

Ottawa tied with several US airports for second place in the ACI ranking for best airport overall in North America, while Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport tied for third. Indianapolis was named No. 1 in the category.

“To be ranked by our passengers as one of the best airports in the world as part of the ACI’s Airport Service Quality Awards is an overwhelming honour and true testament to the work that we are doing at Billy Bishop Airport,” said Geoffrey Wilson, CEO of Ports Toronto, owner and operator of the airport. 

“The investment we have made in the airport from developing infrastructure, to partnering with exceptional air carriers, to working with our stakeholders to provide amenities and access is aimed at providing passengers with an exceptional travel experience that makes the airport an enjoyable part of the travel journey.

”Seoul Incheon and Singapore tied for first among the world's busiest airports (over 40 million passengers per year).

Among other winners: 

Skopje, Macedonia, was named best small airport in Europe (under two million passengers per year); London Heathrow was best large airport in Europe (over 40 million); and Guayaquil, Ecuador, was best airport overall in Latin America-Caribbean.

The ACI Airport Service Quality programme is based on assessing passengers' satisfaction at over 300 airports worldwide, covering elements such as check-in, security and food and beverage options.

The 2015 ASQ Award winners for "Best Airport in North America.

"Ist place

 •    Indianapolis (IND)

2nd place

•    Grand Rapids (GRR) 

•    Tampa (TPA)

•    Dallas Lovefield (DAL) 

•    Jacksonville (JAX) 

•    Ottawa (YOW)

3rd place 

•    Sacramento (SMF) 

•    Austin (AUS) 

•    Detroit (DTW) 

•    San Antonio (SAT) 

•    Toronto Billy Bishop (YTZ)

“Airports’ increasing concentration on ensuring a stellar passenger experience is part of a larger trend,” said Angela Gittens, director general, ACI World. 

“From duty free and restaurants to ambience, cleanliness, courtesy of staff, amenities, efficiency and more, air travellers are expecting big things from the airports through which they travel. More than anything, ASQ is a way for participants to measure the extent to which they deliver on these expectations.”