Iloilo International Airport in Sta. Barbara-Cabatuan towns, some 19-kilometer and 20-minute ride to and from the city, has been rated no. 12 Best Airport in Asia for 2016.
Iloilo airport’s rating went up from rank 21 in 2015 among Top 30 voted by travellers in Airport Survey posted Oct. 15 of website Guide to Sleeping in Airports.
Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog commended the airport management for maintaining the facility for convenience of visitors. He stressed the citation complemented tourism, business and investment promotions considering Iloilo airport is the gateway to the metropolis.
He hoped the recognition will draw more tourists, investors and economic opportunities for the benefit of the Ilonggos.
Iloilo International Airport is, at the moment, probably the best-looking and most efficient airport in the Philippines, assessed one traveller.
“Recent travellers report clean facilities though there are only a few shops and eateries. Free Wi-Fi is available,” the survey showed.
The annual survey covered travellers’ overall airport experience based on comfort including rest zones and gate seating; services, facilities and things to do; food options; immigration security; customer service; and cleanliness.
The online travel portal noted that Asia’s best airports are typically dually ranked as the best in the world.
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Almost 10 years in operation, Iloilo International Airport is a small, fairly modern airport that opened in 2007. The single terminal houses international flights to Hong Kong and Singapore and domestic destinations.
The airport’s expansion plan through public-private partnership is in the pipeline as bidding for the project is expected to resume soon.
The survey rated the airports in Asia based on people’s experience in terms of comfort (rest zones and gate seating), services, facilities and things to do, food options, immigration/security, customer service and cleanliness.
Meanwhile, the Top 10 Best Airports in Asia as voted by travellers in 2016 survey were:
(1) Singapore Changi, (2) Seoul Incheon, (3) Tokyo Haneda, (4) Taipei Taoyuan, (5) Osaka Kansai, (6) Hongkong International Airport, (7) Kuala Lumpur, (8) Tokyo Narita, (9) Mumbai India, and (10) Nanjing Lukou in China.
Others which ranked best were Rajiv Gandhi in India (13), Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand (17), Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Indonesia (20), Nagoya Chubu Centrair International Airport in Japan (25) and Kaohsiung International Airport in Taiwan (29).
Mactan-Cebu airport is at no. 14, Clark International Airport at no. 15 and Davao International Airport at no. 26.
The results were based on a year-long online survey that asked travellers to cite which airports they like and don’t like to spend their time due to delays, transits and/or sleep in overnight (due to being stranded by flight cancellations).
