More Notable Airports
In “Airports Around the World,” you got a chance to learn about four notable airports: Los Angeles International Airport, Sydney Airport, Changi Airport, and Heathrow Airport. Here are a few more worth mentioning:
Incheon International Airport, Seoul, South Korea – The Icheon International Airport is the largest airport in South Korea. It was one of three airports (the other two being the Hong Kong International Airport and the Singapore Changi Airport) to receive the full 5-star ranking by the aviation research company Skytrax and was named “Airport of the Year” for 2009. It is quite a young airport, having opened in 2001, and is filled with beautiful gardens that cover an intricate web of a seamlessly operating underground transportation system that includes trains, buses, car parking, and more.
Hong Kong International Airport – This airport has been namedA by Skytrax asA “Airport of the Year” seven times in the past decade. Despite being extremely large, the airport is easy to get around thanks to its free people movers (yes, that’s the technical term), which travel at speeds of 62 km/hr to get travelers to and from 3 major points at the airport.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Netherlands – This is my favorite airport, but I’ll admit I am biased because of my Dutch background and semi-annual visits to Holland. Its name seems a bit backwards because it keeps the words in the standard Dutch order. It is Europe’s 3rd largest airport and was the first airport to receive “Airport of the Year” by Skytrax. Its infrastructure features an enormous shopping area and even a museum of art. There is also a rooftop viewing area for those interested in watching the planes take off and land.
Coming soon: New Doha International Airport, Doha, Qatar – This airport is scheduled to open this year, with total completion due in 2015. It features a record-breaking 2.64-mile-long runway. The plans for the inside are no less than stunning, including an oasis of gardens, special relaxation areas, and even a separate terminal for the Emir of Qatar. It will be the first airport able to service the enormous Airbus A380.
