Ranking: Top 10 airports worldwide for business travellers

Among the top five are Singapore Changi Airport (second place), Tokyo Haneda Airport (fourth place), and Seoul Incheon International Airport (fifth place).

Booking.com's Business Travel Airport Index has revealed the top 10 busiest airports globally, based on key factors impacting business travellers. Here are the results, as follows:

The best airports in the world for business travellers

Dubai International Airport

Dubai International Airport is ranked the best in the world for business travellers, with a near-perfect score of 9.55 out of 10, and a consistent high score across each factor. 

This can be attributed to the UAE’s strong business travel outlook, with the sector projected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.8% from 2024 to 2030 — pushing corporate travel revenue from around US$40mn to more than US$92mn. Coupled with a low corporate tax environment and a prime geographic position linking Europe, Asia, and Africa, the region continues to strengthen its appeal as a global hub for business travel.

Singapore Changi Airport

Singapore Changi Airport has replaced Tokyo as the second-best airport for business travel, with a score of 9.01/10. This can be attributed to its renowned cleanliness, exceptional customer service, and efficiency. Other factors contributing to its success include its numerous lounges, three-star hotels within a one-mile radius, a high Skytrax rating, and close proximity to the central business district. 

Frankfurt Airport

The third-best airport for business travel is Frankfurt Airport, with a score of 8.62/10, maintaining its rank oweing to its extensive route network with direct flights, a strong Skytrax rating, close proximity to the central business district, and numerous hotels within a one-mile radius. 

In addition, Frankfurt is one of the best places for connecting flights. It's known for its high transfer rates and efficiency, dedicated to facilitating quick connections between flights. 

The best global airports for each factor

Most lounges in the world

With 46 on offer, Heathrow Airport in London has the most lounges in the world, giving corporate travellers ample space to work, rest or meet privately. 

With nearly 83.9mn passengers in 2024, Heathrow's high passenger volume makes lounge access key for productivity. While business-class tickets and many travel cards already include entry, pay-on-entry options (starting at about £36) offer a smart, stress-saving upgrade for professionals facing long waits or need a quiet space to work.

Most number of routes with direct flights

Istanbul Airport is said to offer more direct routes than any other, with 314 flights across 13 routes. As the larger of Istanbul’s two international airports, Istanbul Airport's strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia has allowed it to retain its title by allowing travellers to cross continents without detours or lengthy layovers.

For business travellers, this connectivity means faster access to emerging markets and fewer complex itineraries.

Percentage of direct business class routes

Tokyo’s Haneda Airport and Doha’s Hamad International Airport lead for business class availability, with 95% of all direct routes offering business-class cabins. 

At Hamad, 174 out of 184 (94.6%) routes include a business class option, ideal for long-haul travellers connecting between Europe and Asia. '

Meanwhile, Tokyo Haneda offers 97 out of 102 (95.1%) routes with premium seating, ensuring a comfortable workspace for traveling executives.

Number of three-star hotels within one mile

Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport has 105 three-star hotels within a one-mile radius of the airport, the most of any airport in the world. However, despite a high concentration of hotels near the airport, it’s between 40 and 70 minutes away from the central business district, Narim Point. 

In that vein, some of the lounges in Mumbai’s airport feature business centres, complete with workstations and meeting facilities for work or client meetings, with complimentary wi-fi available throughout the airport. 

Driving time to downtown (minutes)

In joint first place are Frankfurt Airport and Dubai International Airport, both with an average of 19 minutes away from the central business district. In Frankfurt, business travellers can reach Willy-Brandt-Platz (the city’s financial core) in as little as 12 minutes, while Dubai International Airport is just 14 minutes from the Burj Khalifa and surrounding corporate towers.

Both airports also have nine three-star hotels within a one-mile radius, allowing business travellers to choose between staying near the terminals or the city centre, depending on schedules.

Methodology

Booking.com's 50 busiest aiports global ranking collected the following data points for each:

• Number of routes with direct flights and the proportion offering business class,
• Number of lounges,
• Skytrax overall rating (out of 5),
• Number of three-star hotels within a one-mile radius of the airport, and
• Driving time to the city's central business district (CBD), of which times were recorded as the midpoint of the estimated range given for a 10am weekday departure from the airport to a landmark at the heart of the CBD.