The Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has been named the world's best airport by the London-based independent research group Skytrax for the seventh time in eight years, the local Airport Authority said Monday.

The annual survey, conducted from August 2007 to May 2008, rated more than 190 airports on some 40 product and service categories, including staff efficiency and courtesy, terminal cleanliness, airport accessibility, shopping and dining options, Internet services, as well as security processing and immigration waiting times.

Edward Plaisted, chief executive officer of Skytrax, said the Hong Kong airport had been singled out "again and again" by delivering services of the best quality.

"To retain the title of world's best airport among such strong competition is clear testament to an airport that is satisfying its customers at the highest level," he said.

Built on a small island neighboring Hong Kong's sparsely populated Lantau Island by land reclamation, the HKIA first openedin 1998 to replace the Kai Tak Airport, which was located in the relatively densely populated Kowloon and nearer to the skyscrapers.

The HKIA has come first in the Skytrax World Airport Awards in 2001-2005 and 2007, and second in 2006, facilitating the city's role as an international aviation hub.

Stanley Hui, chief executive officer of Airport Authority Hong Kong, said the HKIA has launched a 4.5 billion HK dollar (577 million U.S. dollar) enhancement program for its Terminal 1 and the airfield, which will be completed by 2011.

The Singapore Changi Airport trailed in this year's survey, followed by the Seoul Incheon International Airport, the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and the Munich Airport.

(Xinhua News Agency July 15, 2008)