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When traveling on a longer journey, you're likely to have a layover in another airport. The hub and spoke model allows airlines to serve more destinations efficiently by routing passengers through one or a handful of airports, increasing overall service. However, connecting is also one of the most stressful aspects of travel, and it's important to know which airports are easier to transfer to for a less stressful connection. In this list, we will look at a combination of factors, primarily layout, size, interior design, and amenities, to determine the best airports for connections in the world. This list will also only consider major airline hubs since these are the airports with the most connections, and especially those with a high number of connecting passengers. 10 Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, United States Easiest Airport In The US The US is not typically known for the quality of its airports, as, generally, Asian airports take the spotlight. However, several of the nation's hubs have been undergoing terminal modernization programs, and even those with older facilities are fairly efficient at moving people, which makes sense given how many major airline hubs the US has. Many US hub airports can almost be considered underrated, given that they're designed to efficiently move large numbers of people, but Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport stands out. Firstly. there are only two terminals, with Delta Air Lines (the primary carrier in Minneapolis) concentrating all of its operations at Terminal 1. Not only does this simplify the connecting process, but the two terminals are connected by a free light-rail system. Plans are also in place for another airside connector past security, similar to the Skylink light rail system at DFW. As a whole, Minneapolis's compact size, straightforward terminal design, easy navigability, and extensive food and shopping options have earned it a reputation as being one of America's best airports. 9 Tokyo Narita International Airport, Japan Tokyo's Main International Airport, And One Of The Best In The World Narita was meant to be the international airport for Tokyo, and although Haneda now also accepts international flights, Narita still receives more international flights. As such, it also handles more connecting itineraries sold by its two largest airlines: All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines. If your layover is in Tokyo, it's more likely to be in Narita than in Haneda. Narita was ranked by SkyTrax as the world's fifth-best airport in 2025. It's renowned for its amenities, visual design, and extensive shopping selection. The three terminals are segregated by alliance (Terminal 1 North Wing is for SkyTeam, Terminal 1 South Wing and Satellite 5 is for Star Alliance, Terminal 2 is for oneworld, and Terminal 3 is for budget airlines). This reduces the need to transfer between terminals, although free shuttle buses are still available. The airport is known for its efficient staff along with clear signage. However, while it's generally an excellent airport, its flaw for connections specifically is that it's a large, complex airport with elaborate terminal designs that may be slightly more confusing than others. As a whole, it remains one of the world's best airports for transfers, but the layout of the terminals may make it more overwhelming than further entries. 8 Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Netherlands Only One Terminal To Navigate Whereas Narita has three terminals. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport only has one. 223 gates all sit under a common roof, arranged into three departure halls that house additional piers, and connected by Schiphol Plaza, a large shopping center with a railway station. With the exception of Schengen areas and the low-cost Pier M in Departure Hall 3, passengers can walk between all of the piers. Schiphol is generally considered to be well organized, and clear signage features prominent English writing for English speakers, with smaller Dutch writing underneath. Additionally, announcements are typically made in English. As a whole, navigating this airport is more similar to moving around a large terminal rather than a typical airport with multiple terminal buildings. Walking is the primary method of getting around, and while distances can be long, there are moving walkways to assist. This makes it one of the easiest airports for transfers in the world. 7 Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, Finland One Terminal, But More Compact Like other European airlines, Finnair relies heavily on connections, and Helsinki's location in Northern Europe made it especially ideal for connections to Asia before the Russia-Ukraine war shut down Siberian airspace. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Finnair was the only major European carrier that earned more revenue from Asia than North America, and as such, it's especially important that its connecting experience is easy. Helsinki-Vantaa Airport has only one terminal, just like Schiphol. Unlike Schiphol, however, Helsinki's terminal is relatively compact, with only 50 gates divided into Schengen and non-Schengen areas. This makes it far less overwhelming for passengers, and the layout of the terminal is fairly straightforward. The airport provides extensive amenities, shopping, and restaurant options, although it's not quite as visually impressive as some of Europe's very best airports. However, with its passenger tracking system, compact layout, extensive signage written in seven languages, and short walking distances, this is undoubtedly the best airport in Europe for transfers, especially for non-European or North American passengers. 6 Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong A Legendary Airport In The Aviation World Hong Kong International Airport, also known as Chek Lap Kok, is a towering achievement of an airport. It's home to Cathay Pacific, one of the world's most renowned international carriers, and SkyTrax has it as the world's sixth best airport, due to its visually stunning design, cleanliness, and helpful staff. All flights currently depart out of Terminal 1, and while it's one of the largest airport buildings in the world, it's fairly straightforward to navigate. You have the main building, which is connected to a satellite concourse to the North via the SkyBridge, a bridge so tall that an Airbus A380 can pass underneath it. Additionally, there's also a midfield concourse connected via an underground passage with people movers. It's a big airport, which can make getting around it intimidating and time-consuming. However, signage in English and a straightforward design make it easy to understand. Additionally, the facility is filled with extensive amenities to occupy your time, helping Hong Kong earn its place as one of the world's best connecting airports. 5 Dubai International Airport, United Arab Emirates A Beautiful And Immense Super Hub Emirates is all about connections in volume, and the company's success has propelled Dubai International Airport to become the world's second busiest airport (behind only Atlanta). As such, it has to be designed to move large numbers of people efficiently, and that's exactly what it does. There are three terminals at Dubai International, but Terminal 1 is for foreign airlines, while Terminal 2 is for budget airlines. Terminal 3 is where Emirates concentrates its flight activities, and therefore, where almost all connecting passengers will transit through. There are three concourses, two of which are physically connected and one of which is connected via an underground passageway. The terminal itself is enormous, and getting around can be time-consuming. However, the airport's ridiculously extensive amenities, jaw-dropping design, and straightforward layout still make it one of the easiest airports in the world for transferring. Of course, this is to be expected given the business model of the airport's home carrier. 4 Seoul Incheon International Airport, South Korea You Only Need 45 Minutes Here Incheon International Airport is routinely ranked in the top five of any world airport ranking, and it comes with some unique amenities. These include a golf course, spas, an ice skating rink, a casino, and the Museum of Korean Culture. Not only that, but the airport's architecture is one of the most impressive in the world. These perks are nice, but what matters most for connecting passengers is how easy the airport is to get around, how big it is, the placement and design of signs, along with the presence and helpfulness of staff. Fortunately for those transiting through Seoul, Incheon is also regarded as being one of the world's easiest airports for transfers. Information desks are abundant, while signs are written in multiple languages. There are two terminals with relatively straightforward designs, and international connecting passengers do not need to pass through customs. Tickets are often sold with less than an hour layover, and this is often enough for most passengers because the airport is easy to transfer through. 3 Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport, United Arab Emirates It's Like Dubai, But Smaller And Less Intimidating Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport is one of the busiest in the Middle East, and while it's also been a prime hub for connecting passengers, the airport has seen major changes over the past several years. Today, it's one of the best airports in the world for connections. The airport's three terminals were formally replaced by the new Terminal A in 2024. Also known as the Midfield Terminal, this building has four concourses (A, B, C, and D) connected via a central headhouse. The airport is renowned for its architecture, and while it doesn't have any headline amenities, what truly matters for connecting passengers is how easy it is to navigate. With only one building and four concourses, it's a fairly straightforward design compared to Dubai. It has excellent signage, along with moving walkways and service desks. Its most notable card over Dubai, however, is the fact that it's small, making the airport easier to understand and less cumbersome to navigate, a major plus for transit passengers. 2 Doha Hamad International Airport, Qatar Easy To Get Around, And It Has The Extras Too Previously, we mentioned that aspects like a building's amenities or design are the extra stuff, which are less important than an airport's navigability. This is why, for instance, Helsinki is ranked above Amsterdam, as it's easier to get around despite being less impressive on the inside. However, Doha Hamad International Airport has abundant signage in English throughout the airport, along with helpful staff. There's only one terminal, and while the building itself is massive with multiple concourses, there are trains located past security to connect different parts of the terminal, saving transit time. Doha Hamad International Airport is also renowned for its architecture, extensive retail and dining selection, and unique amenities. These include an indoor garden, unique artworks, and excellent airline lounges. What we see here is an airport that gets the essentials of an easy transfer experience, and does the extra stuff better than almost any other airport. 1 Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore The World's Best Airport In 2025 Singapore Changi Airport was ranked as SkyTrax's best airport in 2025, and it frequently trades places with Doha for the top spot. This hub gets everything right with the fundamentals of an easy transfer experience, including signage, a straightforward terminal design, and helpful staff. Three of the terminals are physically connected, in addition to the complimentary SkyTrain, while Terminal 4 is connected via free shuttle buses. However, where Singapore Changi Airport really shines is with its added extras. Beautiful architecture, extensive retail options, and elaborate interior amenities like a movie theater in Terminal 3 and interior gardens make for a truly memorable airport experience. Then, of course, there's Jewel, essentially a world-class mall connected to Terminal 1. Changi Airport is as easy to get around as any of the world's best connecting airports. For longer layovers, this airport provides the most extravagant entertainment options and a visual design to match. For this reason, Changi is undoubtedly the world's best airport for connections.
