Ko Samui Departure Lounge

I have just been catching up on some reading and saw last week’s results of the ACI (Airports Council International) Airport Service Quality Survey 2008.

Well it came as no surprise to me to learn that “for the fourth year in a row, the top three performing airports in the world were in the Asia-Pacific Region, with Incheon International Airport in South Korea winning the coveted Best Airport Award. Passenger satisfaction with the new Terminal 3 promoted Singapore Changi Airport into 2nd place this year, with Hong Kong International Airport coming in at a close 3rd place.”

I know I am a complete Asia-ophile (is there a word?) but, apart from the occasional blip, I still think the region surpasses everywhere else when it comes to service.

A great survey but I would like to propose that they add a new category: Best Boutique Airports. Now, I do not know how you would define such a thing but I am sure we could agree some criteria. What do you think? How about, only aircraft carrying less than 150 passengers can land there? Anyway, whatever we decide I would nominate Thailand’s Koh Samui Airport for the Asia-Pacific Region.

I remember first landing there, not long after it opened, 20 years ago and trundling around on golf-buggy type trucks. And collecting luggage under a thatched roof – just a roof, no walls. Well I have been a number of times since, the last time being 2008, and the concept hasn’t really changed that much. And that to me is a good thing.

All you need are some luxury hammocks (i.e. white, no holes) hanging from the open beams and you could stay there for your two week vacation. The sea is a short stroll away, just at the end of the runway. And there is a new ‘shopping mall’ on site.

What makes this little privately-owned (by Bangkok Airways) airport even more amazing (to me) is that it has ‘international’ designation. Yes you can fly direct from Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

I do not claim to have visited every small airport in Asia and if there are other contenders for this ‘new award’ I would be interested in hearing about them. I know that Bangkok Airways has another 2 in the running Sukhothai, and Trat but I haven’t seen those yet. Have you?