With this year’s Skytrax rankings for the world’s best airport having been released, Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) comes out on top for 2026, for the 14th time. Apart from this, Changi Airport was also named the best in four other categories, marking it as a huge day for the airport.

However, when considering the broader list of top 20 airports, it becomes easy to notice that a key airport is missing from the list. It is Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH), which has also consistently been at the top of the list in previous years. However, this year the airport is not on the list because the airport chose to withdraw from the awards program.

It’s The 14th Time, Best Airport In The World!

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Skytrax, on Wednesday, 18th March, released this year’s top 20 airports. This year, Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) was named the best airport in the world. This marks the 14th time the airport has been named the best, and furthermore, this year, the airport has won in a further four categories.

Apart from the “Best Airport” in the world, Changi Airport also claims the top spot for “World’s Best Airport Dining“, “World’s Best Airport” in the 60-70 million passenger category, “World’s Best Airport Immigration Service“, and the “Best Airport in Asia“. The airport, since it opened, has been well regarded by passengers and is usually considered the best or among the best airports in the world.

Because the airport serves as a hub for Singapore Airlines, but also a common connecting point in the East Asia and Australasia regions, a considerable number of passengers transit through SIN. The airport’s ability to maintain its quality, comfort, and excellence consistently over the years is why the airport is usually considered the best or among the best in the world, alongside the likes of Hamad International Airport, in Doha, Seoul Incheon Airport, in South Korea, Tokyo Haneda Airport, in Japan, and more.

Speaking Of Hamad International, Where Is It?

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This year, when looking at the list of top 20 airports, the usual airports can be seen, albeit with a few changes in ranking. However, a very noticeable point is the fact that Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) is not on the list. This is despite the airport also having been named the best in the world a number of times in the past decade, building up a reputation as the best or among the best airports in the world.

As per Skytrax, DOH reportedly issued a statement on Tuesday stating that it would be withdrawing from all awards programs, industry events, exhibitions, and more, at this time. The airport emphasizes that the safety and well-being of its passengers and staff remain its priority, given the current circumstances. This, of course, is a reference to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which started three weeks ago.

While the conflict has significantly impacted most Middle Eastern airports, Hamad International remains one of the most impacted in the region. The airport and its home airline, Qatar Airways, have not resumed operations to the level seen by their neighboring hubs, Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), along with their respective airlines, Emirates and Etihad.

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Special Operations And Storing Aircraft!

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While Qatar Airways has resumed limited operations since the onset of the conflict, in terms of operations and connectivity provided to DOH, it is still significantly lower than the connectivity provided by its neighboring airlines. However, Qatar Airways has been operating a number of special passenger flights, which often do not touch the airline’s hub at DOH.

While it started as operating a number of repatriation flights from Muscat International Airport (MCT) in Oman, to various gateways in Europe, the airline has since utilized its fleet of long-haul aircraft to operate flights directly between East Asia and Europe. Rather interestingly, the airline has also used some of its A380s on these missions. According to data from FlightRadar24, the airline flew the aircraft type from Bangkok to destinations such as Madrid, Munich, Frankfurt, and Manchester, which usually do not see the carrier’s A380s.

Beyond the special missions flown, the airline has recently also started sending some of its aircraft to Teruel Airport (TEV) in Spain, which is well known for long-term aircraft storage and the aircraft graveyard. Thus far, the airline has four of its aging Airbus A330 aircraft, but also several newer aircraft as well, including Airbus A350s, an A380, and Boeing 787s.