The Most Problematic Airports

The magazine "Forbes" has published the rating ofOrganization of Civil Aviation, admitting that its
the international airports causing the worst troublesefforts to update the country's leading transport
associated with their flights. The black-list of thecenters fall behind the rate of its economic growth.
publication has included both airports of the thirdThe third place was adjudged to the international
world countries and transport centers of numerousairport Sao Paulo Congonhas, where only 54% of
world capitals. The main criterion of selection was theflights arrived in time in 2007, the time of delay for
degree of flight delays based on the data as of 2007the remaining flights being no less than 45 minutes.
for transport centers, the carrying capacity of whichThe fourth position has been occupied by the
makes up no less than 10 million people per year.international airport New York La Guardia, where less
The country's airport is the first step of acquaintingthan 58% of flights arrived in time in 2007, the
foreign guests with the new state. The experts ofaverage time of waiting for the arrival being more
have analyzed the aspect and the service level ofthan one hour.
world's leading transport centers. The degree ofReferring to Robert Pool, the US Government
deviation from the airports' schedules of arrival andConsultant on Interurban and International
departure served as selection criterion.Transportation, the publication informs that the
"According to the portal, world's most punctualsituation with flight delays in many US airports has
airports are to be found in South Korea and the Landworsened due to the fact that most companies have
of the Rising Sun".chosen to replace their airplanes with small air-liners.
The Brasilia International Airport, the carrying capacityFor example, in JFK, one of the large US air
of which made up 10 million people last year, headedcompanies, the number of airplanes with capacity of
the top five of the worst airports where flights areless than 100 passengers increased by 128% during
delayed most often. It turned out that less than 27%the last five years.
of its flights started in time in the year of 2007. TheThe top five is enclosed by the Newark International
average period of waiting for takeoff in this airportAirport, where a little more than 58% of flights
makes up 52 minutes.arrived in time in 2007.
The second place was occupied by the Beijing CapitalWorld's most punctual airports are to be found in
International Airport. A little more than 33% of theSouth Korea and the Country of the Rising Sun.
flights started from there in time in 2007. TheThus, in Gimpo International Airport the number of
carrying capacity of this airport made up 49 millionbusiness-flights that had arrived in time makes up
people in 2006.approximately 95%. The airport Jeju International,
In addition, Brazil has also occupied the third place inthe biggest airport of South Korea, yields only 1% in
the black-list. It was divided between the airportsthis respect.
Sao Paulo Guarulhos International and CongonhasJapan has somewhat yielded to Korea in the
International, situated in the city of Sao Paolo. Onlysegment of the most punctual arrivals. In the Osaka
41% of flights started in time from the first one, andItami International Airport only 8% of flights did not
only 43% from the second one. The Cairoarrive in time. Instead, Japanese airports occupy six
International Airport has occupied the fourth positionleading positions in the top ten of world's most
in the list. Only 47% of flights started from there inpunctual transport centers in respect of the number
time last year. The average time of waiting forof timely takeoffs.
takeoff has made up 43 minutes. The airport'sThe Airport of Lhasa and Bangda Airport, situated in
carrying capacity made up only 10.8 million people inTibet, are considered the most difficult for takeoff
2006.and landing. The first one is situated on the height of
The list is enclosed by the Paris Charles de Gaulle3500 meters, and the second one - at the height of
International Airport. Only half of flights started from4300 meters above the sea level. Both airports are
there in time in 2007.surrounded by mountains.
However, the researches were not satisfied with thisBangda airport is the most highland civil airport in the
rating and compiled another top five of transportworld with the longest runway (5500 meters).
centers with the smallest number of flights arriving inThe Norwegian Longyear Airport on the Spitzbergen
time.Archipelago is difficult for landing because of
The first place in the rating has been occupied by theconstantly and rapidly changing weather conditions,
Chhatrapati Shivaji Mumbai International Airport. Alow clouds, wind and continuous mountain range.
little more than 44% of all flights arrived here in timeThe international London Heathrow Airport also got in
last year, and the average period of delay made upthe list of world's most complicated airports because
45 minutes.of strong side winds.
The second position has been occupied by the DelhiWell, there are not only airports that are delivering
Indira Gandhi International Airport, where a little moreproblems, but also those who care much about the
than 45% of all flights arrived in time in 2007.ecology. A Carbon Zero airport certificate was given
According to the magazine, Indian authorities haveto the Christchurch International Airport, New
repeatedly apologized to the InternationalZealand.