Heathrow has been crowned the best airport for shopping for a second year running at the Skytrax World Airport Awards.
The airport was also named the second best airport in Western Europe at the ceremony, which took place on March 30 at the Passenger Terminal Expo conference in Copenhagen. The UK's only hub airport also scooped second place worldwide for airport dining.
The World Airport Awards are based on survey results from 11.38 million questionnaires completed by airline passengers of over a hundred different nationalities in 2010/2011, covering more than 240 airports worldwide.
The survey evaluates traveller experiences across 39 different airport categories - from check-in, arrivals, transfer through to departure at the gate. Operating since 1999, the survey is completely independent of airport operators.
With more than 740,000 square feet of retail space, Heathrow is home to more than 500 shops and brands including premium names such as Harrods, Prada, Gucci and World Duty Free; as well as household brands such as JD Sports, HMV and WHSmith.
Every pound made by Heathrow is invested in refurbishing and redeveloping the terminals. A new check-in and departure area for passengers was unveiled at Terminal 4 in 2010 following a £200 million redevelopment, which includes the first-ever Cath Kidston airport store. Terminal 3’s arrivals level is currently being refurbished and a new satellite building at Terminal 5 will open later this year. The airport has also listened to passenger feedback in recent months and removed some retail ventures in favour of more seating.
John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow's commercial director, said: “The Skytrax World Airport Awards are very highly regarded as huge numbers of people take part. We are absolutely delighted to have been recognised as the best airport for shopping for a second year running, and to be closing in on Amsterdam as the best airport in Western Europe.
"This award is a credit to the many people working hard to make every passenger's journey better than the last one, and to providing the excellent shopping experience we know our passengers expect."
The Sofitel hotel at Terminal 5 was voted the best airport hotel in Europe and third best worldwide. BAA's Stansted Airport was also voted best worldwide for low-cost airlines.
Notes to Editors
- Heathrow sells 55,000 bottles of fragrance each week
- If you stacked all the bread from all the sandwiches made at Heathrow in a year you could make a tower 22 miles high
- More people flew through Heathrow last year than the total number of people living in England
- A 747 plane weighs about 165,400Kg – that’s approximately 4,872,000 Cadbury’s Creme Eggs
- Heathrow sells enough water each year to fill two Olympic size swimming pools
- Heathrow sells over 269,000 muffins every week. That’s over 1.4 million each year and, placed out one by one, would be as long as 8850 Double Decker buses
- Over 27,880 croissants and pastries are sold at Heathrow each week. That’s over 1.45 million every year and placed end to end this would stretch over 137 miles
- Heathrow sell over 19,000 kg chips every week. That’s over 990,000 kg every year, the equivalent of 250 elephants
- Heathrow sell over 245,000 cups of coffee every week in all shapes and sizes, and over 12 million cups per year. That’s over 9,000,000 pints of liquid, and enough to fill an Olympic swimming pool almost 4 times
