The magazine “Forbes” has published the rating of the international airports causing the worst troubles associated with their flights. The black-list of the publication has included both airports of the third world countries and transport centers of numerous world capitals. The main criterion of selection was the degree of flight delays based on the data as of 2007 for transport centers, the carrying capacity of which makes up no less than 10 million people per year.
The country’s airport is the first step of acquainting foreign guests with the new state. The experts of Forbes.com have analyzed the aspect and the service level of world’s leading transport centers. The degree of deviation from the airports’ schedules of arrival and departure served as selection criterion.
“According to the portal, world’s most punctual airports are to be found in South Korea and the Land of the Rising Sun”.
The Brasilia International Airport, the carrying capacity of which made up 10 million people last year, headed the top five of the worst airports where flights are delayed most often. It turned out that less than 27% of its flights started in time in the year of 2007. The average period of waiting for takeoff in this airport makes up 52 minutes.
The second place was occupied by the Beijing Capital International Airport. A little more than 33% of the flights started from there in time in 2007. The carrying capacity of this airport made up 49 million people in 2006.
In addition, Brazil has also occupied the third place in the black-list. It was divided between the airports Sao Paulo Guarulhos International and Congonhas International, situated in the city of Sao Paolo. Only 41% of flights started in time from the first one, and only 43% from the second one. The Cairo International Airport has occupied the fourth position in the list. Only 47% of flights started from there in time last year. The average time of waiting for takeoff has made up 43 minutes. The airport’s carrying capacity made up only 10.8 million people in 2006.
The list is enclosed by the Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport. Only half of flights started from there in time in 2007.
However, the researches were not satisfied with this rating and compiled another top five of transport centers with the smallest number of flights arriving in time.
The first place in the rating has been occupied by the Chhatrapati Shivaji Mumbai International Airport. A little more than 44% of all flights arrived here in time last year, and the average period of delay made up 45 minutes.
The second position has been occupied by the Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport, where a little more than 45% of all flights arrived in time in 2007.
According to the magazine, Indian authorities have repeatedly apologized to the International Organization of Civil Aviation, admitting that its efforts to update the country’s leading transport centers fall behind the rate of its economic growth.
The third place was adjudged to the international airport Sao Paulo Congonhas, where only 54% of flights arrived in time in 2007, the time of delay for the remaining flights being no less than 45 minutes.
The fourth position has been occupied by the international airport New York La Guardia, where less than 58% of flights arrived in time in 2007, the average time of waiting for the arrival being more than one hour.
Referring to Robert Pool, the US Government Consultant on Interurban and International Transportation, the publication informs that the situation with flight delays in many US airports has worsened due to the fact that most companies have chosen to replace their airplanes with small air-liners. For example, in JFK, one of the large US air companies, the number of airplanes with capacity of less than 100 passengers increased by 128% during the last five years.
The top five is enclosed by the Newark International Airport, where a little more than 58% of flights arrived in time in 2007.
World’s most punctual airports are to be found in South Korea and the Country of the Rising Sun. Thus, in Gimpo International Airport the number of business-flights that had arrived in time makes up approximately 95%. The airport Jeju International, the biggest airport of South Korea, yields only 1% in this respect.
Japan has somewhat yielded to Korea in the segment of the most punctual arrivals. In the Osaka Itami International Airport only 8% of flights did not arrive in time. Instead, Japanese airports occupy six leading positions in the top ten of world’s most punctual transport centers in respect of the number of timely takeoffs.
The Airport of Lhasa and Bangda Airport, situated in Tibet, are considered the most difficult for takeoff and landing. The first one is situated on the height of 3500 meters, and the second one – at the height of 4300 meters above the sea level. Both airports are surrounded by mountains.
Bangda airport is the most highland civil airport in the world with the longest runway (5500 meters).
The Norwegian Longyear Airport on the Spitzbergen Archipelago is difficult for landing because of constantly and rapidly changing weather conditions, low clouds, wind and continuous mountain range.
The international London Heathrow Airport also got in the list of world’s most complicated airports because of strong side winds.
Well, there are not only airports that are delivering problems, but also those who care much about the ecology. A Carbon Zero airport certificate was given to the Christchurch International Airport, New Zealand.