Best Airport Named For 2012, Indianapolis Takes Top Spot

In the US, the best airport has been named for 2012, and it’s not one of America’s major coastal hubs.

North America’s best airport was named by the Airports Council International in their yearly Airport Service Quality awards. Besting airports in both Ottawa and Tampa, 2010 winner Indianapolis International Airport was deemed the most amenable to passengers of all the continent’s travel hubs.

So how is the best airport named by travel industry experts? Gate surveys taken on passengers at the airports are tallied, ranking each one for its ability to provide passengers with a hassle-free flight experience.

After the best airport was named, Indianapolis International spokesman Carlo Bertolini addressed the accolade in a statement about the 2012 honor. Bertolini said that the “annual awards program identifies the most passenger-friendly airports throughout the world,” adding that “results are derived from ASQ’s year-round passenger satisfaction surveys conducted in gate areas.”

But the best airport was so named, executive director for the Indianapolis Airport Authority Robert Duncan said in a prepared statement, due to the hard-working employees focusing on passenger satisfaction.

Duncan said:

“Being the best airport in North America wouldn’t be possible without world-class employees. I am proud of their dedication, and I especially thank our front-line staff who greet our guests and keep our facilities clean, safe and operational around the clock.”

While Indianapolis International was named the best airport for travelers in general in 2012, there’s one group that might not agree — smokers. As the top honor for airport was bestowed upon the city’s hub, a court case dating back to 2005 and centering on whether airport bars in the city had a right to allow smoking passengers to light up continued to be litigated after a total smoking ban.