THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AIRPORTS IN THE WORLD

Airports also have their charm. Although many perceive them as cold, stressful, and chaotic spaces in which we waste hours waiting and waiting, some are also authentic architectural gems that are not always valued.

In general, airports are designed for functional purposes and nothing more, although that does not imply that several of them are impressive due to their structure, dimensions, meet and greet architecture, or the place in which they were built.

Chek Lap Kok, Terminal 1

Hong Kong

It was built in 1997 to celebrate the handover of Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China, although it was inaugurated a year later. It was designed by the architectural firm Foster and Partners and the end result was a spacious, huge and elegant terminal, which looks like a giant airplane hovering over a landfill.

Its steel and glass ceilings provide harmonious light inputs to the interior of the Terminal. Its panoramic views of the aircraft are also unmissable.

General Cesareo L. Berisso International Airport

Montevideo, Uruguay

It is also known as “Carrasco”, thanks to the fact that it is located in this suburb located 15 kilometers from the center of Montevideo. Its design is the work of Uruguayan architect Rafael Viñoly and it was inaugurated in 2009.

It is internationally recognized for its gigantic 365-meter curved roof. Its interior is usually filled with natural light, and it also has an impressive outdoor terrace from which you can see the departure and arrival of planes.

Giovanni Nicelli Venice Airport

The Lido of Venice has one of the most peculiar airports in Europe. Nestled between historic buildings and a medieval church, this airport’s design dates back to 1935. This airport can be reached by boat, bicycle, or on foot, and the departure and arrival hall features murals of 1930s aircraft painted by the artist. Tato (Guglielmo Sansoni).

Long Beach California Airport

With Hollywood charm, it has an Art Deco style designed by Horace W. Austin and Kenneth Wing Sr. It was updated not long ago by HOK Architects, in fact, in one of its renovations carried out in 2012, vestiges of its greatness were found, like carpets and beautiful mosaics with different shapes.

Barra Scotland Airport

Arrivals and departures from this airport depend on the tides and unstable weather, as it is located on an island in the Outer Hebrides.

Its peculiarity lies in the fact that it may be the only one that has a landing and take-off runway on the beach. It is not the most equipped or modern airport, but it is one of the most romantic.

Kansai International Airport, Terminal 1

Osaka, Japan

It is 4 kilometers long and 2.5 kilometers wide. It is located on an artificial island in Osaka Bay and its construction, in addition to being expensive, was monumental.

In the case of Terminal 1 (1.7 kilometers long), it was designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop and is designed to withstand typhoons and earthquakes, proof of this was that it did not suffer any damage after an earthquake that shook Kobe in January 1995 and in which more than six thousand people lost their lives.

The American Society of Engineers named it one of the 10 Millennium Monuments of Civil Engineering.

Courchevel Airport

France

It is one of the most demanding airports for a pilot, as it is located in the upper part of the French Alps. To land on its short runway, you have to cross mountain valleys and descend on a hillside at an angle of 18.5 degrees. Pilots must reduce speed immediately upon landing, so anyone who wants to fly here needs a special certificate.

Queen Tamar Mestia Airport

Georgia

Mestia is found in the Caucasus Mountains, 1,500 meters high. It is a small ski town that has fortresses and churches that are listed by UNESCO as World Heritage.

Its airport terminal is square in shape made of steel and glass. Its design is the work of the German architect and artist Jurgen Mayer-Hermann.

Dammam King Fahd International Airport

Dammam, Saudi Arabia

One of the cities with the greatest oil wealth on the planet is Dammam, and 50 kilometers from it is perhaps the largest airport in the world, if we consider the hectares of desert sands it occupies.

It was built by the Japanese firm Yamasaki and Associates , although its construction began in 1976 and began operations in 1999. To get there you must travel a road in the middle of the desert.

It served as a military base during the Persian Gulf War. It is currently a luxurious terminal that is rarely used, so its facilities are always quiet and in a calm environment.