Modern man is used to airplanes, flights and airports. And it is already difficult to imagine our reality without air travel. Every country and major city has its own airport terminal, or even a few. They can be tiny or huge, famous or trivial, civilian or military. Today we’re going to tell you about the busiest airports in the world. Millions of tourists pass through their gates every year.
- Hartsfield-Jackson (USA, Georgia)
The world’s busiest airport, named after Atlanta mayors Maynard Jackson and William B. Hartsfield, sees nearly 104 million passengers each year. It has retained its leading position in passenger traffic for more than 20 years.
The air port area is 1,902 hectares and covers the territory of three communities – Atlanta, East Point and Hapeville. The air terminal complex is not only an important interstate transportation hub, but also connects the country to North, South and Central America, Africa, Asia and Europe. Uninterrupted operation of the air harbor is provided by a huge staff – more than 60 thousand people.
Hartsfield-Jackson is more than just an airfield. It is home to exhibits about the city of Atlanta, photo exhibits, and artwork from university students.
Each year, one of Atlanta’s airstrips (the airport’s middle name) is transformed into a running track for charity marathon participants. Proceeds from the event are donated to educational institutions for scholarships.
This is interesting: The airport was erected on the site of the abandoned Atlanta Speedway track, which was formerly owned by the founder of the Coca-Cola Company and was the site of the race.
- Beijing Showdu (China)
China’s first and largest airport annually receives about 96 million passengers. It consists of three terminals: the first is designed for domestic flights, the other two serve both domestic and international flights.
The second terminal is home to major airlines: Skyteam, China Southern and China Eastern. Terminal 3 is the base for Oneworld, Air China and Star Alliance. The area of the latter is 986 thousand square meters, which makes it one of the largest in the world (the territory is second only to the airfield in Dubai).
The infrastructure of the airport complex includes:
72 catering establishments (restaurants of different levels, cafes, fast food);
a winter garden, stylized as the Imperial Gardens of the Summer Palace;
sales area of 12.6 thousand square meters. m;
Duty-free zone, etc.
The distance between terminals (3C, 3D,3E, etc.) is about 2 km, so to get, for example, luggage or boarding passes, travelers use interterminal train. For passenger convenience, the airfield is connected by a subway line to Beijing, so arriving passengers can go directly to the city center or to the train stations.
- Dubai (UAE)
The airport in Dubai receives about 88 million passengers annually. The national carrier Emirates Airline is based here, as well as a small company Flydubai.
The air harbor connects the country with North and South America, European countries, South, East and South-West Asia, the African continent and Australia.
The complex occupies an area of 1,400 hectares and consists of 3 terminals, between which the buses run. Travel time is 20-30 minutes.
There is an exhibition center, restaurants, 5 and 4-star hotels, a health club, a business center and a duty-free zone.
Next to the second terminal there is an area for VIP-guests (dignitaries, stars, heads of large companies, etc.) with its own customs control service, lounges, business center and conference halls.
It’s interesting: Since Dubai is a transshipment point for the export and import of flowers, the administration has launched a project to build a sorting center at the airport. To date, its area is 100 thousand square meters, and the capacity – almost 300 tons of flowers a year.
- Tokyo, Japan
The second name of the airport located in the Ota District is Haneda. Its passenger traffic exceeds 85 million people. The main purpose of the airfield is to provide air traffic between the capital and other populated areas of the country. As for international destinations, Haneda receives mainly charter flights from Seoul, Shanghai and Hong Kong. The main burden of receiving “foreign guests” falls on the other airport complex – Narita.
Tokyo airport serves as a base for well-known Japanese carriers – All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, as well as low-cost carriers – Skymark and Hokkaido International Airlines.
There are three terminal buildings within the airport, two of which are designed to serve domestic flights, one for international flights. The infrastructure of the first terminal, called the “Big Bird,” includes a six-story restaurant, retail space and observation deck; the second has a rooftop restaurant, retail halls, a store and catering facilities occupying six floors, and a hotel.
Heads of foreign states and other important persons are received in a separate vip-building.
For information: You can get from Haneda to Narita and some parts of the capital by train: there are Tokyo Monorail and Keihin Keiku Railway stations right at the airport.
- Los Angeles (California, USA)
The airfield is built between the El Segundo and Westchester neighborhoods near the coast. It is shaped like a horseshoe. Travelers remember the distinctive look of the colorful pillar buildings and glowing large letters LAX.
Millions of people visit the Los Angeles airport every year. According to the latest figures, its passenger traffic reached 84.5 million. The airport connects California with North and Latin America, the Middle East, Asian countries, Europe and Oceania. The buildings, which occupy an area of 14 square kilometers, are connected by overground passages, underground tunnels and elevated corridors. Movement is carried out on special shuttle buses.
Of the nine terminals, eight are assigned serial numbers, and the remaining one is named after Tom Bradley.
In addition to basic infrastructure (souvenir stores, catering facilities, banks, etc.), there are four hotels on the flight deck: Radisson, Hilton, Best Western and Crown Plaza.
- O’Hare (Chicago, Illinois, USA)
The complex was originally named Orchard Air Field when it opened in 1943, but six years later it was renamed after the U.S. Navy ace Edward O’Hara.
Until 2005, it was the busiest airport in the world with more than 2,660 takeoffs and landings daily. By now O’Hare has not only lost the palm, but has become the sixth busiest airport in the world, which nevertheless remains quite large at about 80 million people.
The largest companies involved in transporting passengers through this airfield are United Express, American Eagle, United Airlines and American Airlines.
To serve travelers at the airport terminal territory there are five terminal areas, which are connected by railroad tracks. A Hilton hotel is built in the center of the complex. There is also a Chicago Metro station, which is the beginning of the Blue Line.
- Heathrow (United Kingdom, London)
The busiest European airfield annually receives 78 million passengers. It is a hub for such air carriers as Virgin Atlantic Airways and British Airways.
There are 5 terminal buildings at Heathrow to serve passengers. Those arriving at the airport can stay at one of the 17 hotels located in the terminal complex and nearby. To get to London is not difficult – on the platforms of the airport stop the trains going to the city center. There is also access to the London Underground station from all terminals.
Initially, the complex was designed to receive no more than 45 million people a year. In connection with the constantly increasing flow of passengers, the services of Heathrow have difficulty with the timely maintenance of aircraft. Frequent flight delays and overcrowded lobbies are the main reasons for customer dissatisfaction.
In addition to the usual infrastructure there are prayer rooms and the Chapel of St. George. The latter is located in an underground bunker and is the site of Anglican, Catholic and Church of Scotland services.
This is interesting: The inauguration of the last fifth terminal took place in the spring of 2008 and was carried out by the reigning Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.
- Hong Kong, China
The Chuklapkok (the unofficial name of the airport, derived from the island of the same name on which it is built) receives about 72.6 million people annually. Its main purpose is to connect Hong Kong with the Chinese mainland, East and Southeast Asia.
Terminal No. 1 is an eight-level building, the upper part of which is devoted to shopping rooms, restaurants and entertainment facilities. The roof is equipped with a special viewing platform. Moving inside the building is provided by two elevators. Terminal 2 does not have a developed infrastructure, because it is designed only for the registration of passengers, after which they go by shuttle to the next building.
Within the airport is the Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre, designed to receive private aircraft. It is equipped with a separate reception and check-in area, its own customs office, business lounges, showers, etc.
It is interesting: For several years (from 2001 to 2011 with short breaks) the airport Chheklapkok was recognized as the best in the world (according to Skytrax). In 2002, it received an award from the International Air Transport Association.
- Pudong (Shanghai, China)
This relatively young terminal complex (opening date – 1999) by now serves about 70 million people. It is the main hub for Chinese airlines: Air China, China Eastern and Shanghai.
Pudong consists of two terminals – the first looks like a wave, and the second – a seagull. Their territory has everything you need – Wi-Fi zones, space with restaurants and cafes, stores, etc.
Right at the airport there is a subway station (second line) from which you can get to the center of Shanghai (with a change – to any part of the city) or to the train station.
- Charles de Gaulle airport (France, Paris)
Paris air harbor with its annual passenger traffic of 69.4 million people is at the bottom of the top 10 busiest airports of the world. The airport complex located 25 km from the capital was opened in 1974 and named after the French general, leader of the Resistance.
Charles de Gaulle is the location of the headquarters of the national airline Air France, as well as a hub for Delta Air Lines and XL Airways France.
The first terminal was built in the shape of a puck, symbolizing engineering. Currently, the air port consists of eight terminals. Their infrastructure includes about 30 hotels, a game room for children and a room with consoles (in Terminal 3), bank offices, pharmacies, medical offices and much more.
Movement between the terminal buildings is carried out by special buses and takes an average of 20-30 minutes.
This is interesting: Due to its unusual futuristic appearance, Charles de Gaulle has more than once appeared in the frames of various films (“Love Story”, “Pilot Pirks Inquest”, “The Crew”).
The airports in the top ten busiest airports have huge areas, lots of passageways and a variety of infrastructure facilities. Some passengers, when they come here for the first time, are delighted by the scale of the complexes, while others are horrified.