The most picturesque airports in the world. The most beautiful airport in the post-Soviet space
What do you know about airports? If you fly often, you've probably seen a lot of them. And of course, we made a list for ourselves, which includes the most beautiful airports according to your version.
High in the Caucasus Mountains, in northern Georgia, there is a small town called Mestia. There are a lot of medieval stone towers, forming part World Heritage UNESCO. But one tower is different from the rest. This is Queen Tamara Airport. It was built in 2010 and consists mainly of glass. The airport tower is square and points upward, and its wings are the ancient buildings located around it.
The airport's operations are not as successful as its design. Initially it was planned to make Mestia ski resort, but Queen Tamara Airport did not receive the code of the International Association air transport due to the small number of passengers. Now there's only one charter airline operates flights from Mestia four times a week.
Queen Tamar Airport is just one of many unique and beautifully designed airports featured in the book Airport Art: The World's Most Beautiful Terminals. The authors of this book are Alexander Gutzmer, Laura Frommberg and Stefan Eiselin. The book shows not only airports from which planes fly to all countries of the world, but also ones like Spaceport America in New Mexico, where the number of passengers is zero.
An airport is a complex complex that must ensure the operation of air transport, the departure and arrival of passengers and cargo. And all this should work like clockwork. But also this air gate city or country. And that means a way to make a first impression, which, as we know, is very important. We will show you the most beautiful airports in the world.
Queen Tamara Airport. Georgia.
Lleida Airport - Alguire. Spain
Spaceport America. New Mexico, USA
Santos Dumont Airport. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas International Airport. Madrid, Spain
Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport. China
Photo: 準建築人手札網站 Forgemind ArchiMedia/flickr (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
Based on materials from: atlasobscura.com
And if not for Singapore, one could call the Baku airport named after Heydar Aliyev the most beautiful in the world.
I haven’t seen many airports yet, but among the countries former USSR this airport is the most beautiful I have ever been to.
Traveling around Azerbaijan, one conclusion can be drawn - the state has made transport problems a priority. In just a few years, modern air terminal complexes appeared in the country, updated runways and the air fleet was modernized.
The country's special pride is its new air harbors. It was built two years ago new terminal Heydar Aliyev International Airport, four new airports in the regions were previously put into operation, and two more were modernized. All segments are developing equally effectively in Azerbaijan aviation transport: passenger and cargo transportation, business aviation and helicopter operations. 
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The airport has two terminals - old and new. Earlier Harbour Air was called " international Airport Bina" (after the name of a suburb of Baku), but was renamed in 2004 in honor of the third president of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev. 
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The new air terminal complex of Heydar Aliyev International Airport was put into operation on April 23, 2014.
From the outside, the airport, like many buildings in Baku, does not have straight lines, and the structure itself is streamlined and smooth. 
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Baku Airport named after Heydar Aliyev is very surprising. Even those who have been to different airports in the world, recognized as the best and most beautiful. 
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The total area of the new airport complex, capable of serving 6 million passengers per year, is 65 thousand square meters. 
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The airport is located 25 kilometers from the city and you will need 20-30 minutes to get to the capital. 
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The inside of the airport is even more beautiful than the outside. On the second floor after passport control you will come across huge wooden “cocoons”, inside of which there are coffee shops and shops, and even the most beautiful chairs - cages, like for large parrots. 
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For everyone, without exception, the airport evokes the most positive emotions. 
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As in Russian airports, there are frame scanners and x-rays for luggage at the entrance.
The main emphasis was placed on a comfortable stay for passengers. As a result, numerous cozy cafes and restaurants, Duty free shops, mother and child rooms, VIP & CIP halls appeared. The number of passengers served per hour has almost doubled. 
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The halls are equipped with more than 2 thousand comfortable chairs, 150 monitors providing timely information to passengers, 40 check-in counters, 19 boarding gates, 13 of which are telescopic bridges, 30 escalators, 21 wide and transparent elevators, with Braille on the keyboard, provided as for ordinary passengers and passengers with disabilities. 
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For passengers with disabilities, there are also specially designated areas, marked with tactile signs, next to the baggage claim carousels. In addition to all this, there are employees on all floors of the terminal, to whom passengers arriving at the airport for the first time can turn for help. 
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Last year, the airport was awarded 4 stars by SkyTrax, an influential British consulting company specializing in studying the quality of services provided. various airlines and airports. Heydar Aliyev Airport is the second airport among post-Soviet states to receive 4 stars. 
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The building is equipped with the latest interactive control systems, such as Building Management and Lighting - allowing you to control air conditioning, ventilation and lighting, automated system sound notification, Gate Operating System - facilitating exit management and Visual Docking Guidance System - guaranteeing safe parking aircraft in parking lots controlled from the terminal control center. And most importantly, the airport is equipped with tomographs of the 4th security level, since its first and most important goal is the safety and regularity of flights. 
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The equipment installed in the control center makes it possible to control aircraft flights over an area of 165 thousand square kilometers. The new runway is equipped with lighting systems, radio navigation equipment and radars that meet the highest ICAO category. 
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In addition to the Heydar Aliyev International Airport, other air harbors of the country have also undergone deep modernization: Ganja, Nakhichevan, Gabala, Lenkorn, Zagatala. 
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The country's national carrier AZAL, Azerbaijan Airlines, accounts for almost 80% of passenger traffic in Azerbaijan. The company has rich history, which dates back to 1923, when the first mail and passenger flights between Baku and Tbilisi began to operate on German Junkers aircraft.
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Now AZAL is the largest carrier in the CIS with a total fleet approaching 30 modern liners various types. Last year, the airline was the first in the post-Soviet space to operate modern Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, which, together with the Airbus A340-500, are AZAL’s flagships, operating the longest flights in the route network, including New York, Beijing and London. 
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On European routes, the airline operates comfortable aircraft manufactured by Airbus - A320 and A319. On short routes The Brazilian Embraer E190 and Embraer E175 fit in well. Now the company's route network includes more than 40 destinations, both within Azerbaijan and to Europe, Asia and the USA.
And the President of Azerbaijan himself prefers the A340. 
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Let's return to the terminal.
Two cups of coffee and a baklava cake cost 10.8 manats, which in our money is about 400 rubles (don’t believe the bottom photo).
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Nobody prohibited photography in the departure hall. 
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Photography was prohibited at Duty Free - that's where I usually take pictures of prices. 
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By the way, the prices are quite low. But it is possible that not all products are of adequate quality - the Jemison bottle I bought leaked, the cork turned out to be of poor quality, which is unacceptable for Duty Free stores. 
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The wine department is also enclosed in a “cocoon”, very beautiful. 
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The glass in the terminal is almost always slanted, making it not very convenient to photograph airplanes. But, if you try, you can find a place with straight windows and contemplate from there. 
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Artificial trees. 
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Let's go up to the Sky Team business lounge, it is located on the second floor in the hall international departures.
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The hall is small, but quite cozy. 
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You can come for drinks yourself, or you can wait for the bartender. 
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Overlooking the terminal.
Some airports amaze with their scale, and some with their beauty. At the end of April, the research company PrivateFly published a ranking of the most picturesque airports on the planet. The list was compiled based on the opinions of travelers and resource users.
Juancho Irausquin Airport, Saba Island, Caribbean Sea
This is not only the most beautiful airport world, but also one of the most dangerous. Here is the shortest runway in the world (only 400 meters!), where only three types of aircraft are allowed to land.
However, this did not prevent Juancho Irausquin Airport from becoming the most beautiful. The air harbor truly offers stunning views that you can begin to admire from the plane. Indeed, the island rises lonely above the waters of the ocean, and all around there are only endless blue expanses.
Donegal Airport, Ireland
Donegal also cannot boast of huge passenger traffic: regular flights There is only one airline operating to this airport, Aer Arann. Also in season there are charter flights, but only to one city - . What did travelers especially like here? The rugged coastline and the runway along it are a particularly impressive sight from the air.
Nice Cote d'Azur Airport, France
This air harbor is located right on the coast Mediterranean Sea near the mouth of the Var River. The airport looks really impressive: a magnificent mountain landscape and an endless turquoise sea.
Gibraltar Airport
Gibraltar Airport is located right at the foot of the Rock of Gibraltar, just 500 meters from the city center. Its runway is crossed highway(you can count such harbors on one hand).
Queenstown Airport, New Zealand
Harbour Air resort town Queenstown is incredible. Even during landing it is impossible to tear yourself away from the window: clouds, mountains with snow caps, cleanest lakes.
London City Airport, UK
London City Airport has just one runway, but landing in the harbor gives you a bird's eye view of the UK capital.
Princess Juliana Airport, Caribbean Islands
Another one of the most dangerous airports in the world, but also one of the most beautiful. The runway is located right on the shore, next to the city beach. So during landing, planes fly literally at an altitude of 10-20 meters above the heads of vacationers. Here you can swim in the sea or lie on the beach and enjoy watching the plane fly over you. And what photos you can take!
Orlando Airport, USA
When landing at the Orlando air harbor, you can enjoy breathtaking scenery: the blue sea, the beach, and in the distance - the NASA launch pads.
Barra Airport, UK
Barra is actually unique: it does not have ordinary runways, but... sandy ones! During high tide, airport operations stop and the runways disappear under water.
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, Canada
The peculiarity of this airport is that it is located opposite the city, in the center of Toronto. And from the plane it generally seems like it’s a few meters away. During landing, you can enjoy the metropolis with its skyscrapers, parks and the tower towering over the city.
Today, airports are increasingly taking on the role of entertainment and recreation centers. An airport should please the traveler’s eye, which means that in addition to the functionality of the structure, its aesthetic beauty is also important. Therefore (in addition to practicality and completeness of the services provided), entertainment and unusual design become important criteria when designing a large terminal. If you want to know where to relax between flights, here's our list of the most beautiful airports in the world.
The most beautiful airports in the world
Incheon Airport, South Korea
Located in Incheon, 52 km from Seoul, this airport is the largest in South Korea. Built between 2 islands and surrounded by the Yellow Sea, it is an architectural masterpiece that pays tribute to Korean culture.
In fact, Seoul Incheon Air Terminal includes many places where travelers can admire the work of Korean artisans, see traditional Korean clothes, take a bath or go for a massage.
Lush vegetation throughout the airport building, many cafes and other recreational places will allow you to relieve stress and forget where you are.
Singapore Changi International Airport, Singapore
Singapore's Changi Airport is much more than an airport; it's more of an amusement park. It has a butterfly garden, waterfall, outdoor pool and water slide. Add to this the original futuristic design, which even includes automatic light modulation to allow the weary traveler to relax. So it should come as no surprise that aeroporto singapore change is also known for the highest number of missed flights (and this is often done deliberately)!
New York Airport, JFK, USA
Terminal 5 of New York's John F. Kennedy Airport was designed by famous architect Eero Saarinen. The modern design of the room, thanks to the undulating movements of the structure and all kinds of shades of blue and white, is associated with the endless expanses of the sky. Terminal 5 aeroporto jfk has already become a cinema star, having been featured in many films, the most famous of which is Steven Spielberg's Catch Me, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
Keflavik Airport, Iceland
Iceland's main airport, located 50 km from Reykjavik, is considered a bright and memorable building. Keflavik International Airport has a relaxing effect on travelers, with large windows overlooking Iceland's amazing volcanic landscape. Aeroporto islanda's only terminal, Leif Eriksson, named after the famous Icelandic explorer, is very convenient. Parquet floors, lighting and modern infrastructure in a minimalist style are typical design elements Nordic countries. This perfect place to wait for your flight.
Wellington Airport, New Zealand
Thanks to its new terminal called the Rock, Wellington Airport is included in our list of the most beautiful airports in the world. Opened in 2010, this oval-shaped building that changes color depending on the temperature is a true success and a triumph for the architects. At its core, the “Rock” Terminal consists of design structures that create a play of light and geometry. Aeroporto Wellington has become an unusual solution for transport construction.
Dubai Airport, UAE
The authorities in the emirate of Dubai seem to be obsessed with the old sports motto: “Faster, higher, stronger.” The government is doing everything to delight and surprise everyone who visits the emirate. Not only the airport building itself is worthy of admiration, but also the largest airport located on its territory. Duty store free on the planet.
The duty free store covers an area of 9,000 sq.m. Wandering among the shop windows, you can get so carried away that you forget about the upcoming flight. In Dubai you can buy not only a bottle of your favorite perfume, but also more significant purchases, for example, a car. Over the past 2013, the airport's turnover amounted to more than $1.5 billion. This figure increases every year and in 2014 it is planned to increase sales to $1.8 billion.
Chek Lap Kok Airport, Hong Kong
On this moment Hong Kong airport, costing taxpayers $20 billion, is the most... expensive airport peace. The Hong Kong air harbor building is even listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most expensive project of its kind. To construct the airport building, it was necessary to create it from sand. artificial island, which connected two existing small islands.
To implement the project, 44,000 tons of explosives were needed, and sand for construction was raised from the bottom of the sea. Despite such great difficulties, the result justified the money and effort spent. Hong Kong Airport is considered not only one of the most beautiful airports in the world, but also the most convenient. The building is designed in such a way that a passenger only needs half an hour after check-in to take his seat on the plane.
Daocheng Yading, Sichuan, China
The highest airport in the world is located in Sichuan. Above it is only the starry sky. The terminal even looks like a spaceship.
The airport is located at an altitude of 4411 meters above sea level. It is higher than many mountains. For example: the highest peak in Great Britain, Ben Nevis reaches a height of 1344 meters, and the height of the highest European peak, Mont Blanc, reaches a height of 4810 meters. Construction of the high-altitude terminal lasted two years, the project cost $255 million.
Capital, Beijing, China
The Beijing airport building resembles the elongated body of a dragon, and the terminal is located in accordance with all the rules of Feng Shui. The air harbor was opened in 2008, for the events held in China Olympic Games. The length of the airport is so significant that there is even a functioning airport inside it. Railway, allowing you to move from one end of the building to the other in seconds.
