Airports can be easy to hate on, especially when their queues, delays and disruptions are the only things standing between you and a sunny escape. Some of the UK’s largest airports were recently named some of the worst in the country, but it seems like they could learn a few things from their smaller counterparts.
The tiny Inverness Airport was crowned one of the best airports that serve under two million fliers in Europe at this year’s Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards. It won last year, too... and the year before that. In fact, it’s been named one of the best aviation hubs in Europe for the past five years running.
Airports Council International, which calls itself the ‘voice of the world’s airports’, determined the best airports based on its survey measuring passenger satisfaction level. Its awards highlight the air hubs with the top 20 percent overall satisfaction score and organises them according to size and region.
Inverness was among six European airports recognised in its category. The hub originally opened as an RAF base in 1940 but began serving civilians in 1947. These days, the airlines using its runway include Loganair, TUI, KLM, easyJet and British Airways. It offers routes to the likes of London, Majorca, Belfast and the Outer Hebrides.
And its excellence doesn’t stop there! Inverness Airport also won the ASQ award for having some of the most dedicated staff in Europe for the third year in a row. The only other UK airport included in the awards was Newcastle International Airport in the two to five million passengers per year category.
General Manager of Inverness Airport, Graeme Bell, said: ‘To win these awards for the fifth consecutive year is an incredible achievement and a proud moment for everyone involved with Inverness Airport.
‘Being recognised for the third year running as the Airport with the Most Dedicated Staff in Europe as well is a testament to the hard work, passion, and commitment of our entire team.’
More small but mighty airports
The UK’s tiniest airports are proving that good things often come in small packages. Another little English airport was recently crowned the best in the world, while this tiny airport is getting new flights from the UK’s biggest regional airline.
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