This Texas Airport Is 1st In North America To Get 5-Star International Rating

by SharonKurheg

There are lots of places that do ratings of airports. J.D. Power. Travel and Leisure. Trip Advisor. Reader’s Choice.

Another one is Skytrax. They’re a United Kingdom-based consulting firm that’s been running an airline and airport review and ranking site since 1999.

Skytrax awards airports in two different ways – by ranking, and by stars. It was a huge deal in 2019, when Singapore Changi Airport, which has taken the top spot for the previous 8 years, was toppled by Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar. The 2022 rankings will occur in April, so we’ll see what happens.

Unfortunately, U.S.-based airports have never fared particularly well in these rankings. In 2021, the best U.S. airport ranked 25th. In 2020, it was 31st. Not something to be proud of.

However, Skytrax also gives airports the Skytrax World Airport Star Rating, which is separate from its rankings. That one is a global benchmark of quality evaluation for the aviation industry. Airports are rated between a 1-Star and 5-Star level following a detailed audit analysis of facilities and staff service to customers across all front-line areas of the airport environment.

And guess what? The City of Houston now boasts the only 5-Star rated airport, not only throughout the state of Texas, not only within the United States, but throughout ALL OF NORTH AMERICA, after William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) achieved a 5-Star Airport status in the Skytrax World Airport Star Rating for 2022.

It’s the first airport in North American to earn the distinction and is one of just sixteen 5-Star Airports across the world.

Hobby Airport excelled in all 29 rating categories, which is how it achieved the coveted 5-Star Rating. The international rating organization also highlighted the airport’s “wide range of substantial guest experience upgrades to the terminal interiors, passenger facilities, and customer service initiatives.” Recent improvements include a new children’s play area, state-of-the-art restroom facilities, modern signage and information systems, a prayer room and a new stage for live music performances, among other recent upgrades and additions.

I can hardly wait to see how HOU does in the rankings for 2022 this April!

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1 comment

Wes January 10, 2022 - 10:11 am

Hobby is barely an international airport. It’s pretty much Southwest’s handful of Mexico/Caribbean flights that makes it so.

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