ilyag From Israel, joined Jan 2001, 109 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 months 2 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 1382 times:
In your opinion, which old airport/terminal designs fared well through the years and still do a good job both operationally and aesthetically? With the increase in air traffic, tight security and more P2P flying, can you think of an airport that was able to adopt itself to the changing environment while retaining its original uniqueness? I can think of several airports from the 80s that can claim they managed well so far, but how about older places? Anything from the 60s or even earlier? 70s?
727tiger From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 193 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (3 months 2 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 1278 times:
I still think, for its original design (O&D traffic), MCI still functions well. I'll grant that its functionality falls off for connecting flights, but for O&D, curb to plane in a matter of feet remains very impressive and functional. Too bad we'll most likely lose those 3 rings sometime in the near future, but progress is progress.
DFW, meanwhile, while I recall it being very open when it first opened has now, because of multiple changes, become, in my opinion and with the exception of E, dark and confining.
ATL's "radical" midfield design has fared very well over the last 30 years. So have MCO and TPA (with its terminal upgrades, granted; still, I like the landside terminal today).
ilyag From Israel, joined Jan 2001, 109 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (3 months 2 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 1261 times:
Quoting TOMMY767 (Reply 1): --BA/UA's JFK T7
--UA T1 at ORD
--MCO
--DL T5 at LAX
--DL's terminals at ATL
- ATL design is from the early 80s, and while operationally it serves as a model for many modern airport designs, aesthetically it is average at best
- ORD T1 is from the late 80s
- MCO is nice but it doesn't that old too
usflyer msp From United States of America, joined exactly 12 years ago today! , 1480 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (3 months 2 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 1207 times:
MSP Terminal 1 turned 50 last month and think it looks pretty amazing for its age. Regular renovation and maintenance can do wonders.
CoachClass From United States of America, joined Jan 2010, 249 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (3 months 1 week 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 1015 times:
BUR is one and the other is TXL which will be shutting down this summer to a lot of peoples's disappointment. I've always thought that they were sort of mirror images of each other and so easy to use.
YXD172 From Canada, joined Feb 2008, 352 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (3 months 1 week 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 959 times:
My favourite is the old T1 at BUD - while no longer the airport's main terminal, this 62-year old building is by far the nicest LCC terminal I've come across. Great architecture, its age only showing in the style of the building, not the wear (it has been refurbished within the last decade). The transit connections to the city are much better from T1 as opposed to from the newer T2 (T1 has the train station).
airevents From Germany, joined Jan 2002, 756 posts, RR: 3 Reply 9, posted (3 months 1 week 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 948 times:
Different opinion regarding TXL, the airport is absolutely not great to use at all. When it was constructed, it was a quite futuristic design, very functional indeed. Passengers could just drive up to the inner loop road that is surrounded by the departure gates, then get out of the car or taxi check in their bags and be right at the gate. I am not sure if security checks for passengers did not exist back then or were just less thorough. Today, the airport can get very crowded as you have one line for passengers checking in (which can be a long queue when people are checking in for a longhaul flight or even a busy LH A321 to Frankfurt) and then another queue for those waiting to be x-rayed. When you walk through the terminal, it is often quite difficult to walk past the gates, as the areas are so crowded. In my opinion, TXL is one of the least convenient airports to use and I will be happy to see it close for its crowded terminal. BER should be a much nicer experience.
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