A new study revealed that Istanbul's metro is among the world's best airport transit lines. The study examines the speed and efficiency of airport public transit systems worldwide and reveals something that is not very surprising for many as the most of the best transit lines are in Asia. Here are the 10 best Airport Transit Lines.
The study by Milecards.com looked at four factors: time saved vs. driving; passenger fares; frequency of departures; and convenience (e.g., availability of luggage storage on trains, etc.).
The world’s best public transit option is the Tokyo Monorail from Tokyo Haneda to downtown, followed by Airport Express Line in Delhi. Maglev's Shanghai ranked third.
From the U.S. only Atlanta's MARTA entered into Top 10.
Frankfurt's S8/S9, London - Gatwick's Gatwick Express, and Istanbul's Metro M1 shared 10th rank in the world listing.
| Rank | Airport | Service | Total Score | Transit Time (minutes) | Drive Time (minutes) | % Faster / (Slower) than Driving | Fare (USD) | Departures per Weekday | Convenience |
| 1 | Tokyo - Haneda | Tokyo Monorail | 80 | 24 | 25 | 4% | $4.00 | 250 | Direct with Luggage Storage |
| 2 | Delhi | Airport Express Line | 76 | 21 | 45 | 53% | $1.00 | 96 | Direct with Luggage Storage |
| 3 | Shanghai - Pudong | Shanghai Maglev | 74 | 8 | 50 | 84% | $7.00 | 51 | Direct with Luggage Storage |
| 4 | Shanghai - Hongqiao | Shanghai Metro Line 2 | 73 | 32 | 40 | 20% | $0.75 | 236 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 5 | Amsterdam | Sprinter / Intercity | 71 | 16 | 25 | 36% | $4.40 | 148 | Train, direct |
| 6 | Atlanta | MARTA Red / Orange Line | 69 | 17 | 23 | 26% | $2.50 | 192 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 7 | Hong Kong | Airport Express | 67 | 24 | 34 | 29% | $13.00 | 115 | Direct with Luggage Storage |
| 8 | Kuala Lumpur | KLIA Ekspres | 66 | 28 | 50 | 44% | $12.00 | 69 | Direct with Luggage Storage |
| 8 | Sydney | Airport Link | 66 | 13 | 23 | 43% | $13.00 | 128 | Train, direct |
| 10 | Frankfurt | S8/S9 | 65 | 11 | 18 | 39% | $5.00 | 84 | Train, direct |
| 10 | Istanbul | Metro M1 | 65 | 30 | 34 | 12% | $1.00 | 167 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 10 | London - Gatwick | Gatwick Express | 65 | 30 | 80 | 63% | $25.00 | 81 | Direct with Luggage Storage |
| 13 | Beijing | Beijing Airport Express | 63 | 16 | 28 | 43% | $3.50 | 99 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 14 | Chicago - O'Hare | CTA Blue Line | 62 | 40 | 39 | -3% | $2.25 | 177 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 14 | Mexico City | Metro Line 5 (transfer to Line 1) | 62 | 38 | 50 | 24% | $0.25 | 216 | Subway / Light Rail, transfer |
| 14 | Paris - Charles De Gaulle | RER B | 62 | 32 | 40 | 20% | $11.00 | 121 | Train, direct |
| 14 | Seoul | KTN | 62 | 43 | 58 | 26% | $7.00 | 29 | Direct with Luggage Storage |
| 18 | Guangzhou | Guangzhou Metro Line 3 | 61 | 55 | 45 | -22% | $1.30 | 200 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 18 | Shenzhen | Metro Line 11 | 61 | 25 | 35 | 29% | $3.00 | 102 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 18 | London - Heathrow | Heathrow Express | 61 | 15 | 45 | 67% | $33.00 | 75 | Direct with Luggage Storage |
| 21 | Toronto | Union Pearson Express | 60 | 25 | 25 | 0% | $9.00 | 78 | Direct with Luggage Storage |
| 21 | Rome | Leonardo Express | 60 | 32 | 43 | 25% | $15.00 | 57 | Direct with Luggage Storage |
| 21 | Denver | University of Colorado A Line | 60 | 37 | 38 | 1% | $9.00 | 72 | Direct with Luggage Storage |
| 24 | New York - Kennedy | JFK Airtrain / Long Island Railroad | 58 | 40 | 58 | 30% | $15.00 | 186 | Train, transfer |
| 25 | Minneapolis | METRO Blue Line | 57 | 23 | 23 | 0% | $1.75 | 109 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 26 | Bangkok | City Line | 54 | 23 | 23 | 0% | $1.25 | 77 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 26 | Singapore | MRT East West Line | 54 | 34 | 23 | -48% | $1.17 | 169 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 28 | Munich | S1 / S8 | 53 | 46 | 38 | -23% | $13.00 | 122 | Train, direct |
| 29 | Tokyo - Narita | Narita Express | 52 | 60 | 65 | 8% | $26.00 | 60 | Direct with Luggage Storage |
| 30 | Seattle | Link Light Rail | 50 | 33 | 22 | -50% | $3.00 | 142 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 31 | Barcelona | R2 | 47 | 27 | 20 | -35% | $3.00 | 35 | Train, direct |
| 31 | Madrid | C1 Line | 47 | 31 | 22 | -41% | $1.94 | 37 | Train, direct |
| 31 | Dubai | Dubai Metro Red Line | 47 | 23 | 15 | -53% | $1.65 | 102 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 34 | Dallas - Fort Worth | DART Orange Line | 43 | 42 | 25 | -68% | $2.50 | 74 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 34 | San Francisco | BART | 43 | 29 | 21 | -38% | $8.95 | 75 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 36 | Newark | Newark AirTrain / New Jersey Transit | 42 | 42 | 40 | -5% | $13.00 | 77 | Train, transfer |
| 37 | Miami | Orange Line | 41 | 21 | 18 | -17% | $2.20 | 84 | Subway / Light Rail, transfer |
| 38 | Phoenix | Valley Metro Rail | 36 | 25 | 17 | -47% | $2.00 | 88 | Subway / Light Rail, transfer |
| 39 | Charlotte | CATS Sprinter | 34 | 19 | 17 | -12% | $2.00 | 49 | Bus only |
| 39 | Los Angeles | LAX FlyAway | 34 | 35 | 38 | 8% | $9.75 | 48 | Bus only |
| 41 | Las Vegas | Westcliff Airport Express | 28 | 14 | 12 | -17% | $6.00 | 23 | Bus only |
| 42 | Houston - Bush | Bush IAH Express | 27 | 53 | 30 | -80% | $1.25 | 52 | Bus only |
| 43 | Orlando | Lynx Route 11 | 25 | 43 | 29 | -51% | $2.00 | 33 | Bus only |
| 44 | Kunming | Under construction | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | No transit |
| 44 | Taipei | Under construction | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | No transit |
| 44 | Chengdu | None | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | No transit |
| 44 | Jakarta | None | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | No transit |
| 44 | Manila | None | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | No transit |
| 44 | Mumbai | None | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | No transit |
| 44 | Sao Paulo | None | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | No transit |
The worst:
6 airports have no reliable public transportation from the airport to city center. Among the rest that do have an option, Orlando, Houston and Las Vegas all scored at the bottom for their sluggish, inconvenient bus routes. All three options are significantly slower than simply getting in a taxi; Houston’s IAH Express line, for example, takes 53 minutes and is80 percent slowerthan driving, on average.
U.S. rankings – Best airport transit
In the United States, only six of the public-transport options are generally faster than driving. Or put another, more gloomy way: At 44 of the 50 largest airports in the United States, taking the train or bus from the airport is slower than taking a cab. However, some U.S. cities have invested in infrastructure to ease travelers’ pain, and there are a few bright spots.
| Rank | Airport | Service | Total Score | Transit Time (minutes) | Drive Time (minutes) | % Faster / (Slower) than Driving | Fare (USD) | Departures per Weekday | Convenience |
| 1 | Atlanta | MARTA Red / Orange Line | 69 | 17 | 23 | 26% | $2.50 | 192 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 2 | Chicago - Midway | CTA Orange Line | 65 | 25 | 34 | 25% | $2.25 | 147 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 3 | Chicago - O'Hare | CTA Blue Line | 62 | 40 | 39 | -3% | $2.25 | 177 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 4 | Denver | University of Colorado A Line | 60 | 37 | 38 | 1% | $9.00 | 72 | Direct with Luggage Storage |
| 5 | New York - Kennedy | JFK Airtrain / Long Island Railroad | 58 | 40 | 58 | 30% | $15.00 | 186 | Train, transfer |
| 5 | Washington - Reagan | Metrorail | 58 | 20 | 11 | -82% | $2.55 | 227 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 7 | Minneapolis - St. Paul | METRO Blue Line | 57 | 23 | 23 | 0% | $1.75 | 109 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 8 | Salt Lake City | Trax Green Line | 53 | 20 | 20 | 0% | $2.50 | 72 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 9 | Seattle | Link Light Rail | 50 | 33 | 22 | -50% | $3.00 | 142 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 10 | St. Louis | Metrolink | 49 | 28 | 23 | -22% | $2.50 | 78 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 11 | Philadelphia | R1 Regional Rail | 48 | 19 | 19 | 0% | $6.50 | 39 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 12 | Cleveland | Red Line | 46 | 29 | 17 | -71% | $2.25 | 99 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 12 | Oakland | BART | 46 | 37 | 40 | 8% | $10.05 | 127 | Subway / Light Rail, transfer |
| 14 | Tampa | HART Route 30 | 44 | 35 | 14 | -150% | $2.00 | 240 | Bus only |
| 15 | Dallas - Fort Worth | DART Orange Line | 43 | 42 | 25 | -68% | $2.50 | 74 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 15 | Portland | MAX Red Line | 43 | 41 | 25 | -64% | $2.50 | 70 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 15 | Boston | Silver Line | 43 | 15 | 14 | -7% | $0.00 | 128 | Bus only |
| 15 | San Francisco | BART | 43 | 29 | 21 | -38% | $8.95 | 75 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 19 | Newark | Newark AirTrain / New Jersey Transit | 42 | 42 | 40 | -5% | $13.00 | 77 | Train, transfer |
| 20 | Baltimore | Light Rail | 42 | 28 | 19 | -47% | $1.70 | 50 | Subway / Light Rail, direct |
| 21 | Miami | Orange Line | 41 | 21 | 18 | -17% | $2.20 | 84 | Subway / Light Rail, transfer |
| 22 | Dallas - Love | Dallas Love Field | 37 | 20 | 15 | -33% | $2.50 | 74 | Subway / Light Rail, transfer |
| 23 | Phoenix | Valley Metro Rail | 36 | 25 | 17 | -47% | $2.00 | 88 | Subway / Light Rail, transfer |
| 24 | Charlotte | CATS Sprinter | 34 | 19 | 17 | -12% | $2.00 | 49 | Bus only |
| 24 | Kahului | Upcountry, Haiku Islander | 34 | 7 | 7 | 0% | $2.00 | 20 | Bus only |
| 24 | Los Angeles | LAX FlyAway | 34 | 35 | 38 | 8% | $9.75 | 48 | Bus only |
| 27 | New York -LaGuardia | Q70 Select Bus to 7 Train | 33 | 55 | 35 | -59% | $2.75 | 128 | Bus only |
| 27 | San Jose | VTA Route 10 / Light Rail | 33 | 30 | 10 | -216% | $2.00 | 64 | Subway / Light Rail, transfer |
| 29 | Austin | Route 100 | 32 | 28 | 24 | -17% | $1.25 | 37 | Bus only |
| 30 | Fort Lauderdale | Route 1 | 31 | 24 | 19 | -26% | $2.00 | 53 | Bus only |
| 39 | Columbus | COTA AirConnect | 31 | 14 | 12 | -17% | $2.75 | 31 | Bus only |
| 32 | Washington - Dulles | Silver Line Express to Silver Line | 29 | 55 | 45 | -22% | $8.60 | 58 | Bus only |
| 32 | Raleigh | Route 100 | 29 | 34 | 28 | -24% | $2.25 | 23 | Bus only |
| 34 | Las Vegas | Westcliff Airport Express | 28 | 14 | 12 | -17% | $6.00 | 23 | Bus only |
| 34 | San Diego | Route 992 | 28 | 15 | 9 | -67% | $2.25 | 66 | Bus only |
| 34 | Nashville | Route 18 | 28 | 23 | 18 | -30% | $2.25 | 19 | Bus only |
| 37 | Milwaukee | Route 80 | 27 | 33 | 16 | -106% | $1.75 | 55 | Bus only |
| 37 | Houston - Bush | Bush IAH Express | 27 | 53 | 30 | -80% | $1.25 | 52 | Bus only |
| 37 | Houston - Hobby | Route 40 | 27 | 53 | 23 | -130% | $1.25 | 49 | Bus only |
| 37 | Sacramento | Yolobus 42A | 27 | 19 | 14 | -36% | $2.25 | 18 | Bus only |
| 41 | San Antonio | VIA Route 5 | 26 | 40 | 16 | -150% | $1.30 | 38 | Bus only |
| 42 | Pittsburgh | 28X Airport Flyer | 25 | 44 | 26 | -69% | $2.75 | 40 | Bus only |
| 42 | Indianapolis | IndyGo Route 8 | 25 | 42 | 23 | -83% | $1.75 | 33 | Bus only |
| 42 | Orlando | Lynx Route 11 | 25 | 43 | 29 | -51% | $2.00 | 33 | Bus only |
| 45 | Honolulu | Route 19 | 25 | 51 | 20 | -155% | $2.50 | 34 | Bus only |
| 46 | New Orleans | E2 Line | 24 | 44 | 23 | -91% | $2.00 | 27 | Bus only |
| 46 | Orange County | Route 76 | 24 | 19 | 12 | -58% | $2.00 | 13 | Bus only |
| 46 | Kansas City | Route 129 | 24 | 42 | 25 | -68% | $1.50 | 19 | Bus only |
| 46 | Fort Myers | Leetran Route 50 to Route 140 | 24 | 65 | 30 | -117% | $1.50 | 13 | Bus only |
| 46 | Detroit | SMART Route 125 | 24 | 76 | 27 | -181% | $2.00 | 13 | Bus only |
