Most Beautiful Airport?

scandinavian · Wed Jul 09, 2003 11:43 pm

Which airport do you think is the most beautiful in the world?

I must say that I really like the design of many of the new airports in Asia. My vote goes to Seoul-Incheon. A remarkable nice and clean airport with a lot of exotic birds for an European like me.

flynboy747 · Wed Jul 09, 2003 11:46 pm

In my opinion, I like Atlanta. Delta is also my favorite airline so this airport is especially my favorite since it's Delta's hub!

deltadude8 · Wed Jul 09, 2003 11:48 pm

I agree with Flynboy747...my vote is for ATL...I just love all of that Delta Action

mas a330 · Wed Jul 09, 2003 11:50 pm

Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)
and
Dubai International (DXB)

swissgabe · Wed Jul 09, 2003 11:51 pm

Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)
Seoul Incheon (ICN)
Helsinki Vantaa (HEL)
Copenhagen Kastrup (CPH)

I'm sure the new Midfield Terminal at Zurich (ZRH) will be very nice as well when once in use.

STT757 · Wed Jul 09, 2003 11:52 pm

Small private airport in Sussex County NJ,

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Yasir Raja

Denver International Airport

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Jeff Miller

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © AirNikon

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Tim Samples

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Walter Pietsch

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Jim Metzger

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © AirNikon

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Tim Samples

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Tim Samples

gr8slvrflt · Thu Jul 10, 2003 12:07 am

Denver for it's breathtaking vistas. It's been many years but I remember Roanoke, Virginia being quite nice, especially in the Autumn. Greensboro has lots of greenspace. Atlanta is getting pretty run-down, if you ask me; it needs more windows and scrap all the orange!

SESGDL · Thu Jul 10, 2003 12:10 am

KMSP of course! Our airport looks like a mall inside, and the surrounding area with the Minnesota River is gorgeous!

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Peter Kesternich

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Mark Abbott

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Aric Thalman

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Matthew Lee

Jeremy

After MSP, I'd say ATL cause Delta's the best and so is Atlanta.

gr8slvrflt · Thu Jul 10, 2003 12:15 am

Chicago Midway International is well on its way; all the new areas are great. I think the renovations will be complete within a year or so. Besides, where else can you actually see into people's living rooms while taxiing?! Big grin

jrlander · Thu Jul 10, 2003 12:24 am

As much as I love my hometown of Atlanta, and as nice as ATL is, I don't think that it is particularly beautiful. Rather, it is functional and clean. In the US, I would have to agree on DIA. I think KLIA and DXB are probably far more beautiful places.

jabpilot · Thu Jul 10, 2003 12:58 am

YVR and KEF (Keflavik, Iceland)

Jeff

BH346 · Thu Jul 10, 2003 12:58 am

For airports I've been to, the most beautiful I've seen is Okinawa/Naha. The new domestic terminal is very nice with a tropical theme inside of it to reflect the subtropical island the airport serves.

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Benjamin PO Yu

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Filippo Pedone

Also, Osaka/Kansai is pretty nice. In the US, I found Orlando's Airside 4 to be beautfiul. Also, the new Northwest WorldGateway in Detroit is an excellent terminal.

Varig · Thu Jul 10, 2003 1:13 am

You guys are forgetting about Santos Dumont in Brazil! Currently it is the most popular photo here. It is an incredible airport in a beautiful city! Pilots who land there are almost Naval aviators!

Continental · Thu Jul 10, 2003 1:16 am

I'll have to be loyal and say MSP. The inside is very modern and nice! It's neat, right next to the Mississippi River and Fort Snelling, with a perfect view of Minneapolis to the NE.

Gr8slvrflt: You're right! I flew in and out of MDW on June 21st, it was amazing. I thought the approach was awesome to 31C, right over those houses! Taxi out to 4R was just as amazing! To our left, there was Kenny Auto Collision, you could throw a rock from the plane and hit it! Right next door were houses, and YES, you can see the living rooms! I saw a TV on! You basically taxi through a neighborhood!

co

bobrayner · Thu Jul 10, 2003 1:17 am

My favourite would be Colombo, although there aren't (as yet) many photos that do it justice Sad

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Suresh A. Atapattu

deltairlines · Thu Jul 10, 2003 1:17 am

My vote would have to go to MCO. First off, it is extremely airy and just inviting to the eye. Secondly, the monorail ride is second to none. You get a glimpse of the Florida scenery, and the ride is very pleasant. Also, the Hyatt inside the main terminal is one of the best hotels I have ever seen (it seems like the atrium area is like the lobby of a hotel).

Jeff

NWAA330 · Thu Jul 10, 2003 1:19 am

KLIA:

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Jonathan kong

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Alexander Kueh

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Alexander Kueh

DTW Midfield:

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Michigan Air Photos

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © JLS Photo

Osaka Kansai

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Kazutaka Yagi

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Bailey

Okinawa's Naha and Dubai are also great looking airports.

NWAA330

EGGD · Thu Jul 10, 2003 1:21 am

Some of you guys make me laugh Laugh out loud

bobrayner · Thu Jul 10, 2003 1:42 am

Don't forget Courchevel Big grin

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Jerome LEPORT

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Sebastien ANDRE

buckwilder · Thu Jul 10, 2003 2:03 am

ATL?!? Functional, yes. Big? Yes. Beautiful?!? I loved feeding the squirrels at the park at the Norfolk terminal. Trees, walking paths, very relaxing. Is it still there? Also, Munich with its cathedral feeling of marble steel and glass. So rich! And Martha's Vineyard, set in the middle of a state forest with bike trails all around it. And Provincetown, set in the dunes. Rustic and outdated terminals, but charming and great proximity to the planes.

ATL perfectly represents the "culture" of Atlanta. A sprawling uninspired functional mall from the 70's.

jrlander · Thu Jul 10, 2003 2:07 am

Maybe you should watch what you say about the culture of Atlanta, eh? I also think that ATL is a bit functional and not particularly beautiful. I must agree that much of Atlanta is a sprawling nightmare, but for those of us who actually live in the city of Atlanta as opposed to the metro area, it is actually a pretty nice place with a very high standard of living.

LPL · Thu Jul 10, 2003 2:11 am

It's a long time since I was there but Rome Flumicino is quite nice.

richierich · Thu Jul 10, 2003 2:14 am

ATL? Are you guys kidding me?? "Most Beautiful Airport??" C'mon on!!
ATL is not even close. It is a big sprawling mess. There is nothing pretty about it, although airports with people movers do get extra kudos in my book. Maybe it is the most beautiful airport in Atlanta.

It is hard differentiate between what is a beautiful airport. To some, it is in the ease of movement or view from the gates (LAS, SAN and AMS come to mind). To others, it might be the location itself (St. Maarten, HNL or Corfu are good examples - you see where I am going!). Or it might be the unique architecture. Denver's teepee design or some of the new Asian airports definitely fit this bill.

My vote: SLC. Easy to use airport, nice friendly folks, and best of all is that scenery. Now if only they could add some teepees!

clrd2go · Thu Jul 10, 2003 2:19 am

I would have to say, of the airports I've been to, I consider MCO to be the
most beautiful. As far as favorite airports, I'd say CLT.

Jim

macmac76 · Thu Jul 10, 2003 2:21 am

My votes go to:

Seoul's Incheon
HKG's Chek Lap Kok
SIN

buckwilder · Thu Jul 10, 2003 2:33 am

JRLander, I am writing this with a view of downtown at my back from my Inman Park (intown) home, not some cow pasture in Snellville. I agree that Atlanta is a "nice" town with a high standard of living for some, but it lacks what a great city needs: a viable, walkable, vibrant inner-city core; a well-supported and diverse arts scene; diversity that "interacts", and much more in my book. As for your Rumsfield-esque rejoinder to "watch what I say", I will exercise my right to express my opinion, thank you very much.

Guest · Thu Jul 10, 2003 2:34 am

It's unbelievable that no one has yet mentioned the only airport worthy of being considered an architectural achievement.

That would be Hong Kong International Airport by Norman Foster. Foster received critical acclaim for his building. In particular, critics hailed the design of the roof as both an engineering and symbolic marvel. (Denver's roof is kitchy by comparison.)

Foster won the Pritzker prize shortly thereafter. The Pritzker is the architectural equivalent of the Nobel Prize. Other winners have included Frank Ghery and Rafael Moneo.

Really some people on this board have to do a bit more traveling. To think some of you actually picked Altanta over Hong Kong.

USAirways737 · Thu Jul 10, 2003 2:41 am

Having just been to DEN, I would have to say it is #1 in my book of airports that I have been to.

Erik in MSP

repaulson · Thu Jul 10, 2003 2:52 am

IAD - SFO - DEN in that order... Nothing like the sunsets at Dulles. I like the way SFO is designed and the new terminal is very elegant. Den is beautiful out there in the plains.

jmacias34 · Thu Jul 10, 2003 3:08 am

Denver, I don't think anything compares with their tent.

richierich · Thu Jul 10, 2003 3:11 am

Gee - I've heard no one say LGA! What a surprise!

vulindlela744 · Thu Jul 10, 2003 3:32 am

I'm surprised no one here has mentioned Oslo Gardermoen. It is an extremely beautiful airport. You feel as though you are outside. Glass everywhere from floor to ceiling and beautiful blond wood. Very Scandinavian and very functional. It is truly a green airport.

bobrayner · Thu Jul 10, 2003 3:48 am

Ooh...
For the Scandinavian interior, Helsinki (Vantaa?) is a close rival IMHO.

I haven't seen Hong Kong (Chep Lap Kok) from the outside. The interior is nice, and modern, and laid out well, but it stops short of beautiful.

manni · Thu Jul 10, 2003 4:04 am

South Korea's Incheon airport.
Anyone who has been there, knows what I'm talking about. Big grin

aloha73g · Thu Jul 10, 2003 4:11 am

Honolulu's main terminal is open air and the gardens by the central concourse are beautiful. I really love getting off the plane in Hawaii because the airport isn't your typical enclosed, air conditioned, sterile box. Honolulu's airport fits it perfectly. And, its my home airport!

NWAA330 · Thu Jul 10, 2003 4:39 am

ATL Beautiful?

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Brett B. Despain

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Brian Stevenson - SPOT THIS!

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Yeah...Right

ConcordeBoy · Thu Jul 10, 2003 7:15 am

I'd refer to ATL as "awe inspiring" (how could the world's busiest airport not be?)... but not so sure about beautiful.

tbear815 · Thu Jul 10, 2003 8:22 am

Honolulu is great with the open air feeling, but for me, Kailua-Kona (KOA) is about as unique as you'll find anywhere. True atmosphere and a refreshing break from endless glass tubes! Mahalo and Aloha!

slawko · Thu Jul 10, 2003 9:30 am

THis one has my vote
View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

elwood64151 · Thu Jul 10, 2003 9:34 am

Columbia, SC (CAE)

Unfortunately, there are no photos of it on a.net...

Kansas City, MO (MCI)

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Sonic99 · Thu Jul 10, 2003 9:36 am

Yeah, that's a gorgeous building - it's almost like stepping off the plane into the past century or something..

BO__einG · Thu Jul 10, 2003 9:40 am

The most beautiful airport that I think of are

Dubai Airport
Seoul-INcheon
Wellington
Cape Town

AerLingus · Thu Jul 10, 2003 9:46 am

Beauty is hard to quantify with all of the different architectural styles there are...

Overall, I say the most beautiful (in my opinion) is Long Beach (KLGB). Absolutely beautiful and romanticises the old days of air travel back when people still dressed up to fly. It's hard to believe this gem of a terminal still functions today!

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

ual767ord · Thu Jul 10, 2003 10:13 am

Dulles is charming!

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

elwood64151 · Thu Jul 10, 2003 11:04 am

Actually, I'm surprised no one mentioned Dulles until now. I've never been, so I can't speak from experience, but I had always thought that it was supposed to be a beautiful, graceful building.

I considered mentioning it, but as I said, I've never been them.

Eric505 · Thu Jul 10, 2003 11:12 am

For the ones I've been to, DEN is the most beautiful.

For Elwood64151

zrs70 · Thu Jul 10, 2003 11:21 am

In the US:

Most beautiful approach: BOS
Most beautiful structure: IAD
Most beatiful aerial: DEN
Most functional as a O/D airport: BUR
Most functional as a connection point: ATL

odie · Thu Jul 10, 2003 11:46 am

Among those that I've been to (in no particular order):

Sydney (Qantas domestic and International terminals), Australia
Copenhagen - Kastrup, Denmark
Hong Kong Intl.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Oslo - Gardermoen, Norway
Los Angeles Terminal 4 (AA's terminal), CA
Newark Airport Terminal C (CO's terminal), NJ

StevenUhl777 · Thu Jul 10, 2003 3:07 pm

Amen to DULLES!

I love the main terminal building. The best part is the approach in to any of the runways...the rolling green Virginia hills, especially 12/30 and 19L & R. Tops SFO, LAX, DEN, ORD anyday of the week and twice on Sunday.

Anytime I go to Europe or back east, I make it a point to go through IAD, and ***ALWAYS*** ON UNITED AIRLINES!!!! Only bad thing is that the UAL concourse at IAD is NARROW! What's up with that, United? ORD is like that, too...narrow! Don't get that.

Living in Seattle, I would have to say an evening flight in or out of KSEA on a sunny evening is great, with the sun setting behind the Olympic Mtns.

If you want a great 4th of July fireworks show, be in concourse D or E at PDX...largest show west of the Mississippi River is Vancouver, WA, right across from PDX.

kevin752 · Thu Jul 10, 2003 3:19 pm

I would have to say that my home airport of LAX is the most beautiful. Especially terminal 3 the other AA terminal. And MCO airport.

Who is online

Popular Searches On Airliners.net