Islamabad replaces Manila at top of list of world’s worst airports

After three years atop a list of the world’s worst airports, Manila’s Ninoy Aquino international airport (NAIA) is now only the fourth worst, behind Islamabad, Jeddah and Kathmandu, thanks to a “slight improvement” in services.

Manila earned some positive points due to terminal renovations and reduced congestion, according to a survey by the online Guide to Sleeping in Airports. Yet reviewers still cited “overcrowding, lengthy queues, limited seating, unfriendly immigration/customs officers and smelly toilets” as reasons to avoid the place, the website said.

Variously described as “a shame”, “the worst” and little more than “a big shed”, NAIA also gained the moniker of “Asia’s largest public sauna” after its air-conditioning system broke down this year and stayed broken down for months.

“I hate every aspect of this airport,” wrote one reviewer. “After you’re done with the hellish airport, your next hell will be the taxis – they will charge you triple [the metered rate].”

There are more complaints about NAIA on Skytrax, an air travel review website. “The place [is] on the point of collapse with the flight information system not working, the drop-off area like a war zone, chaotic queues, laughably confusing, inaccurate or non-existent signage, immigration staff who [do] not have a clue how to process foreigners with resident status, and disgusting airport lounge facilities,” wrote one traveller of Terminal 1, which is currently undergoing a £16m refurbishment.

NAIA was constructed under the Marcos regime in the 1970s and is named after the politician Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr, who was assassinated on the runway after returning from self-exile in 1983. Roughly 32 million passengers a year pass through its four terminals.

The annual survey asks travellers to rank airports on comfort, cleanliness, customer service, amenities such as restaurants and Wi-Fi, and sleeping-in-the-open policies.

Manila lost its first-place ranking to Islamabad’s Benazir Bhutto international airport, described as a “central prison” where aggressive security checks and uncleanliness reign.

Second and third on the list were Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz international airport, known for “rude immigration officers and lengthy queues”, and Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan international airport.

In 10th place was New York City’s LaGuardia airport, which the US vice-president, Joe Biden, likened in February to a “third-world country”.

Barack Obama, who visited Manila in April, seems to have made no disparaging comments about his NAIA experience – perhaps because the entire airport was closed to the public for both his arrival and departure.

Guide to Sleeping in Airports’ top 10 worst airports

1. Islamabad Benazir Bhutto international airport, Pakistan (ISB)

2. Jeddah King Abdulzaziz international airport, Saudi Arabia (JED)

3. Kathmandu Tribhuvan international airport, Nepal (KTM)

4. Manila Ninoy Aquino international airport, Philippines (MNL)

5. Tashkent international airport, Uzbekistan (TAS)

6. Paris Beauvais-Tille international airport, France (BVA)

7. Frankfurt Hahn international airport, Germany (HHN)

8. Bergamo Orio al Serio international airport, Italy (BGY)

9. Berlin Tegel international airport, Germany (TXL)

10. New York City LaGuardia international airport, USA (LGA)