The Airports Council International (ACI) published today (February 16, 2010) its ranking of the leading airports in the 2009 consumer satisfaction survey. According to the survey of the world's airports, Ben-Gurion Airport was placed first in the Middle East.

The ranking is based upon the results of some 275,000 satisfaction questionnaires covering more than 30 different elements, which were completed by passengers in 118 airports throughout the world in 2009. The survey directly examines the assessment of each element, from flight check-in to arrival at the flight boarding gate.

This is the third consecutive year that Ben-Gurion Airport has been ranked first in the Middle East. This important ranking by the ACI joins many other international rankings in which Ben-Gurion has been placed among the world's best airports. In 2009, approximately 10.5 million passengers passed through Ben-Gurion Airport.

As part of the Israel Airports Authority's policy of constant improvement, the IAA's council has allocated 3.7 billion shekels to be invested in enhancing safety, infrastructures, security and passenger service.

IAA Director General Kobi Mor said: "Ben-Gurion's first-place ranking in this major international survey is both important and complimentary. 2009 was a year in which aviation in general and Israeli aviation in particular suffered a heavy blow as part of the global financial crisis. Despite this, the IAA's employees continued to provide the highest level of service even on peak days in which 60,000 passengers through Ben-Gurion Airport."

The ACI is the international organization of airport authorities and airports. Its membership encompasses about 180 countries and approximately 1,650 airports. Ben-Gurion Airport's managing director, Shmuel Kandel, serves as a member of the European regional management of the ACI.

The organization's objectives include: Advancing airport-related aspects of various aviation issues, airport management, enhancing professional knowledge, exchanging information, and ensuring the airports' interests vis-à-vis the decision makers in various forums such as the ICAO and the ECAC.

The international organization operates in 5 geographic regions and representatives from each region serve on the 5 global committees that operate under its auspices. These representatives usually include the chairman and the deputy-chairmen of the regional committees and a limited number of aviation experts. IAA representatives also serve on the various committees.