America's best place to fly? Think TIA

A travel survey says Tampa International tops every U.S. airport when it comes to service, access, design and comfort.

By JEAN HELLER, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 7, 2003

TAMPA -- It took a decade, but a leading travel magazine has once again named Tampa International Airport the best airport in the country and one of the best in the world.

According to an annual poll taken by Conde Nast Traveler magazine and released Thursday, TIA was the most-loved airport in the country and ranked third in the world behind two perennial favorites, Singapore's Changi Airport and Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport.

"It's great to be on top," said Louis Miller, executive director of the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority. "We've known all along that this was a great airport. Now the world knows."

The magazine ranked only the top three, but among the honorable mentions were Orlando International and Palm Beach International airports. Others listed were in Las Vegas, Portland, Ore., Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City and Washington, D.C.

"The top scorers have a few obvious traits in common," the magazine said. "With the exception of Pittsburgh and Salt Lake City, they don't handle a lot of connecting passengers, unlike the two giant airports, Chicago O'Hare and Atlanta Hartsfield, which run neck and neck for the dubious honor of world's busiest airport.

"The leaders also tend to be newer, located in Sun Belt and leisure destinations, and easy to navigate -- typically with gate areas that radiate out from a main concourse and don't require you to run laps to get to the nearest coffee bar."

The airports were judged on five criteria: location and ease of access; ease of connection; customs and baggage handling; food, shops and amenities; and comfort and design.

The last time TIA was named No. 1 in the country by Conde Nast was in 1993, and Miller was then executive director of Salt Lake City International Airport. Since Miller arrived in Tampa, he and the authority board have overseen massive renovations of the 31-year-old facility, including remodeling of the third level of the main terminal building and the construction of new airsides.

Airside E opened in October with Delta Air Lines as the principal tenant. Plans are under way to demolish two of the original airsides, B and C. Airside C will be rebuilt as a new home for Southwest Airlines. The space occupied by Airside B will become overnight parking for aircraft scheduled out on early morning flights.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright