At the beginning of March it was revealed that Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Funchal (Madeira) and Ponta Delgada (Azores) airports have been recognised by Airports Council International (ACI) with awards for “Best Airport” and “Best Hygiene Measures” in Europe.
These awards recognise Portugal’s airports for their continued commitment to passenger experience and safety.
The “Best Airport” award was given to Lisbon, in the 25 to 40 million passengers category with Porto and Faro both being awarded in the 5 to 15 million passengers category. Ponta Delgada won “Best Airport” in the category with less than 2 million passengers.
Given the demands of the current pandemic situation, ACI introduced a new award, “Best Hygiene Measures”, with the aim of recognising the ability of airports to ensure a hygienic and safe environment at the same time maintaining necessary measures to meet both the needs and expectations of passengers. In this new category, the airports of Porto, Faro, Funchal and Ponta Delgada stood out among the best in Europe.
The ACI awards complement the Airport Service Quality programme, a global initiative, which aims to measure passengers’ overall satisfaction with the services and products offered and also to understand how their perspectives and expectations change.
According to Luis Felipe de Oliveira, MD of ACI World, “The awards demonstrate the winning airports’ focus on delivering excellent experiences, highlighting them as exemplary.” He also emphasised that even in the face of extraordinary circumstances, passengers have recognises the teams’ efforts and commitment to providing superior services.
Thierry Liggonière, CEO of ANA Aeroportos de Portugal, highlighted the importance of this recognition saying, “In a year of uncertainty, our teams have shown commitment and resilience. We have been able to reinvent ourselves, adapt and innovate, ensuring the protection of all, for all. These awards indicate to us that we are on the right path for the recovery of the aviation market, with the necessary confidence in the new passenger experience.”
Algarve is notable for its family-friendly holidays — in 2019 it was voted European top destination for families.
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For up-to-date information on airport safety and hygiene measures click here.