CRaHFT Ranking 2012 | Top 10 Halal Friendly Airports (Non OIC Countries)
After months of nominations, research, surveys and voting by our community, Crescentrating is pleased to announce "CrescentRating's Halal Friendly Travel (CRaHFT) Ranking 2012" of the Top 10 Halal Friendly Airports (Non OIC Countries) in 2012.
When we travel through airports in OIC countries, or Muslim majority countries, we usually run across the basic necessities for a Muslim - a prayer room and Halal food facilities; that's not always the case in non-OIC countries! Although more and more airports in those countries are beginning to cater to the diverse needs of travelers using their facilities, there are still many airports which have not taken in to account the needs of Muslim travelers.
Top 10 Halal Friendly Airports in Non OIC Countries for 2012 are as follows:
1. Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok
Bangkok's newest international airport is one of the most vibrant airports in Asia and serves millions of travelers each year. The airport has taken the initiative to make Muslim travelers comfortable by providing Halal friendly facilities; there are Muslim prayer rooms available both in the public area and transit area of the airport with proper ablution facilities. They also conduct Jumu'ah prayers in one of them.
A few Halal dining options can be found before and after the immigration check point, and travelers can reenergize with a tasty burger, kebab, or one of many Thai dishes.
2. Changi International Airport, Singapore
The Changi International Airport is considered to be one of the finest airports in the world. There are three terminals and they are all very accommodating to the needs of a Muslim traveler; prayer rooms and Halal dining options are available in the transit areas of all three terminals. Although the prayer rooms provided are multi-faith prayer rooms, they provide wudu facilities as well as separate male and female prayer areas. Hungry travelers can relish in the Halal certified branches of Burger King, Popeyes, McDonalds, Coffee Bean, Bistro Delifrance and many other options.
3. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg
Formerly the Johannesburg International Airport, it was renamed in 2006, and now has two terminals handling a majority of the domestic and international air traffic in South Africa. A Muslim prayer room, which is open 24 hours a day, is available near the basement parking area. It offers separate facilities for men and woman and conducts the Jumu'ah Salaat prayer every Friday.
A number of Halal dining options are available in the form of cafes and restaurants, the most well-known being a Nando's in Terminal A. The airport offers all forms of transport including access to the train, bus, and taxi terminal and car rental service.
4. London Heathrow Airport, UK
There are multi-faith prayer rooms in each of the terminals and they cater to both male and female worshippers; Certain multi-faith prayer rooms in the airport perform Jumu'ah Salaat every Friday. There are a few Halal dining options in the airport including the Bite Cafand the AMT Coffee Shop.
5. Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport, Sri Lanka
The only international airport in Sri Lanka, the Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport offers has a comfortable Muslim prayer room in the departure/ transit lounge which has separate male and female facilities; there are no specific wudu facilities, but the nearby washroom does have a place to wash the feet for wudu.
There are no Halal certified restaurants in the airport at the moment but many Halal certified food products can be found in the snack and grocery shops located inside.
6. Munich "Franz Josef Strauss" Airport, Germany
Muslim travelers will find that a beautiful Muslim prayer room is available equipped with many prayer rugs and copies of the Quran while Halal restaurants are available in Terminals 2 and 3. The Muslim Prayer room was opened in 2011 to cater to the growing number of Muslim travelers to the city
7. John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York
There are dedicated prayer rooms for all major faiths and the Muslim prayer room is located in Terminal 4 and Terminal 1. Though the prayer rooms are well maintained and have separate areas for males and females, there are no particular wudhu facilities but the washrooms nearby can be used. Jumu'ah Salaat prayers are performed in the prayer rooms every Friday.
One of the most unique Halal friendly facilities at the JFK airport occurs during the month of Ramadan, where the airport is known to provide dates, water and other snacks for Ifthar in certain waiting areas. Additional make-shift prayer rooms are also organized so that all Muslims can be accommodated easier during times of prayer.
8. Melbourne Airport, Australia
The prayer room is clearly marked in the terminal and I gender segregated. Wudhu can be done in the adjacent washrooms, where footstools are available to make it easier to do ablution. There are many Halal dining options including a Krispy Kremes in Terminal 2 and 3.
9. Hong Kong Chep Lap Kok International Airport, China
The airport is built on an artificial island and is visited by over 50 million passengers yearly. Excellent transport facilities, shopping centers and other amenities are available for travelers along with many in-airport hotel options. There are two designated Muslim prayer rooms in the airport and wudhu facilities can be found in the attached washrooms. Though there are not many Halal dining options, a Halal certified restaurant called the Sky City Bistro can be found adjoining the airport.
10. Manchester Airport, UK
Titled as the Best Major UK Airport by the British Travel Awards in 2011, Manchester Airport offers many great services to its travelers. There are two multi-faith prayer rooms in the airport which both offering wudu facilities. The prayer rooms are open 24 hours a day and can be used by males and females.
In the past, the Manchester Airport is known to offer certain facilities during the Hajj season including temporary facilities for passengers to change into religious garments as well as supply extra ihrams to those who needed it. Make-shift prayers rooms have been known to be added to accommodate all of the passengers comfortably.
The Reader Ranking, which was compiled according to the voting from the Crescentrating community, listed the Top 10 Halal Friendly Airports in Non OIC Countries as follows:
1.Changi International Airport (Singapore), 2.Suvarnabhumi International Airport (Bangkok), 3.Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg), 4.Narita International Airport (Japan), 5.Vancouver International Airport (Canada), 6.John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York), 7.Heathrow Airport (UK), 8.Auckland Airport (New Zealand), 9.Charles de Gaulle Airport (Paris), and 10.Dusseldorf International Airport (Germany).
And that concludes the Top 10 Halal Friendly Airports in 2012 (Non OIC Countries)! If you've visited one of these airports, be sure to leave a review in our "Write a Review" section!
