2006 Best Airports in Europe
 

Munich - tops in Europe again. Followed by Helsinki, Zurich and Copenhagen.

I wish they would do a "worst" too,

http://www.worldairportawards.com/Aw...esultsFull.htm

I like flying into Schiphol.

Interesting!

Of the three best airports on the continent, Munich, Zurich, and Copenhagen, Ryan Air flies to none of them.

not intersting at all. Ryanair doesn't fly into any of the "major" airports as far as I know. That's why they are a budget airline.

Certainly flying into Paris, Frankfurt or Barcellona, I'd try and avoid Ryanair. But Rome, Pisa, Naples are all fine.

Helsinki? What's wrong with Graz? or Perpignan. To say nothing of Prestwick!

Does anyone actually connect through Helsinki?

I am underwhelmed by Zurich. And thought pretty highly of Barcelona, though my several flights in/out of there are some time back now.

Best wishes,

Rex

If I am in transit, the best airport is the one in which I spend the least time.

Thanks bardo,

I am pleased to know that next May I shall be flying into Europe's top airport.

((I))

munich has far too many quirks of poor design to be the absolute best in europe. i would doubt that the compilers of this list ever had the displeasure of using the toilets at MUC. for all but the very largest loos at the airport, you need to walk through a tiny "antechamber" that contains 2 sinks...the door swings into this tiny room. typically, two people will be at each sink whilst someone is trying to exit the main room to get to the sinks. at the same time, someone will be trying to go past the sinks to get to the toilets....four people trying to work past each other in a tiny space....all with carryon luggage. it's a nightmare.

ira...i suggest you take care of your personal needs before entering this airport.

they also make use of transfer buses if flying to or from london with the excuse being that it's our fault for not being part of schengen.

they also make use of transfer buses if flying to or from london with the excuse being that it's our fault for not being part of schengen

Gee.....I wonder who won that world war???

There are entries for central Europe, eastern Europe, southern Europe... Hey, did anyone notice lack of WESTERN European airports?
I agree that MUC is over-rated, esp if you're flying non-LH. Too austere for my taste as well. Anyway, I'm not inclined to trust too much on this one especially seeing Athens and Venice included.

>Gee.....I wonder who won that world war???

What does that have to do with airports? or with Schengen?

"Does anyone actually connect through Helsinki?"

Sorry rex, but thousands of people do that every day. Helsinki happens to be a major connection point between east and west. Finnair alone has over hundred direct flights per month to China and Japan (Peking, Shanghai, Hongkong, Kanton, Tokio, Osaka, Nagoya) on top of other far east Asia direct flights. Daily Kuala Lumpur and Delhi start next month.

From Helsinki it takes only 8 hours to get to Shanghai. Far less than from any central European town. We even have weekend trips to Peking.

thanks elina!
This will become more and more important as the Chinese economic ties to the west keep growing by leaps and bounds...

Athens International Airport, opened just before the olympics, is a superb facility. The previous 'International' airport for Athens at Hellenikon was the pits.

I'm not surprised AIA at Spata, Athens was top of the southern European section.

bill

The only listed airport that I've flown through is Munich. I agree it's one of the world's best.

Okay, elina...

Now I'm better informed.

I suspect the list is a little out of date - see Middle East #2.

have been to 7 out of 10 of the world top airports and it made me realise that airports aren't really great places - somewhat akin to compiling a top 10 list of best instant coffee!

What?! I'm *shocked* that CDG did not make number one. Could this be a mistake? ;)

Of all of the European airports I have been too, I liked Zurich the best, followed by Schipol.

Tracy

On a different note, I am surprised that Denver made the top three in the US. Denver is one of the worst airports I have been to. Sure, aesthetically its a great building, but I was surprised by the lack of services. Do to a cancelled flight, I had to spend about five hours in the airport last summer coming back from a conference. There are hardly any restaurants or bars, so we were stuck at a food court food that had to eaten at our gate because there was nowhere near the amount of tables that should have been there. At many airports there are tv's around so you can at least watch the news, but the airport even lacked that. For a newer airport, I was vastly dissapointed.

Tracy

Where in the U.S. would you rather spend a layover. I remember a stop in Altanta - an overpriced so-called Phily steak sandwich! No, I think any airport you have to spend time in is an abomination, but realy, DIA is no worse than most I have been in.

sorry, I think Chicago O'hare is definitely the worst. My personal theory is that it's part of a program to improve the quality of life in the actual city- they take all the miserable people off of the streets and keep them at the airport. I fly through there at least four times a year, and I've run into a grand total of 2 genuinely friendly people! Come on, even a smile would help!
As far as the best airport, Edinburgh gets that, in my book, for the opposite reason - scots are actually friendly! Even their security people are nice.