Where in the World is the Fastest Airport Wi-Fi?

Airport Internet access, like hotel Wi-Fi, is more necessity than luxury. When you’re waiting at the gate ready to board, and especially when you’re delayed, you reach for your smartphone, tablet, or computer to check on business, friends, or Facebook.

Speed matters. And we got the top 20 airports with the best Wi-Fi in 2016. The top airport worldwide with the fastest Wi-Fi is the Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, Arkansas, whose download speed is 42.17 Mbps, according to a Wi-Fi watchdog site, Rotten WiFi. The site ranks Estonia’s Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport as having the second fastest Wi-Fi at 38.30 Mbps, and places Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand in third place, with 37.10 Mbps.

“Traveling can often be a stressful time and if there are delays involved it does nothing to help improve the mood,” says Arturas Jonkus, CEO of TelcoQ, parent company of Rotten WiFi. “High speed Wi-Fi access is a vital service that airports should now be offering all customers to help make their journey more relaxing and keep them coming back.”

Airport Wi-Fi speeds aren’t likely to influence your choice of airports — price plays a more significant role. However, knowing that the buffering icon on your screen isn’t a caused by device, but by the airport’s slow Wi-Fi, may bring some solace.

For more consolation, be glad you aren’t flying out of South America. The fastest connectivity is a sluggish 8.20 Mbps at Guanare Airport in Guanare, Venezuela, and the worst is a death rattle of 4.26 Mbps at Jacinto Lara Barquisimeto International Airport in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. So if you are flying out of South America, bring a print book to read.

Top 20 Best Wi-Fi Airports in 2016

1. Clinton National Airport — Little Rock, Arkansas, USA, average download speed of 42.17 Mbps

2. Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport — Tallinn, Estonia, 38.30 Mbps

3. Don Mueang International Airport — Bangkok, Thailand, 37.10 Mbps

4. Kuala Lumpur International Airport — Sepang District, Malaysia, 34.02 Mbps

5. Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport — Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA, 33.53 Mbps

6. Singapore Changi International Airport — Singapore, 32.80 Mbps

7. Chiang Mai International Airport — Chiang Mai, Thailand, 32.54 Mbps

8. Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport — Houston, Texas, USA, 32.22 Mbps

9. Hat Yai International Airport — Khlong La, Thailand, 32.02 Mbps

10. Chiang Rai International Airport — Chiang Rai, Thailand, 29.69 Mbps

11. Tampa International Airport — Tampa, Florida, USA, 26.08 Mbps

12. Vilnius International Airport — Vilnius, Lithuania, 24.04 Mbps

13. Juanda International Airport — Sedati, Indonesia, 22.63 Mbps

14. Page Field — Fort Myers, Florida, USA, 21.77 Mbps

15. Suvarnabhumi Airport — Nong Prue, Thailand, 21.42 Mbps

16. Tulsa International Airport — Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA, 20.07 Mbps

17. Samui International Airport — Ko Samui, Thailand, 18.15 Mbps

18. John F. Kennedy International Airport — New York City, New York, USA, 17.50 Mbps

19. Ngurah Rai International Airport — Bali, Indonesia, 16.71 Mbps

20. Kaohsiung International Airport — Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, 15.20 Mbps

Top 5 Best Wi-Fi Airports in North America in 2016

1. Clinton National Airport — Little Rock, Arkansas, USA, average download speed of 42.17, Mbps

2. Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport — Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA, 33.53 Mbps

3. Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport — Houston, Texas, USA, 32.22 Mbps

4. Tampa International Airport — Tampa, Florida, USA, 26.08 Mbps

5. Page Field — Fort Myers, Florida, USA, 21.77 Mbps

To find out which airports offer free Internet, check Wi-Fi FreeSpot Directory. Since access changes frequently, make sure to double-check this list. Not all free sites are free of potential problems. Wi-Fi FreeSpot warns: “BEWARE of Wi-Fi networks called ‘Free Public Wi-Fi’ in airports. You’ll get online but most likely these are fake unsecure networks helping to steal info.”