Blog 42: 7/7/23: The Story of the World's Top 5 Airports, the Best Aerial Ports of Call Around the Globe
Welcome back to Brooke In The Air! This week we're reviewing the best airports of the world.
These are not the biggest, though they might as well be given how many passengers they end up serving on an annual basis. Many in America regard airports as nothing more than malls with airline gates, there is good reason for this. One needs only to look at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, or Los Angeles-LAX International Airport to have these suspicions confirmed. However, around the world, airports are so much more, notably they are not just sprawling complexes of buildings, airports are the living civic ambassadors of the countries they represent.
Let's examine the top 5 in reasonable detail. Spoiler: You’ll note that none of these airports are in the United States much less the Western hemisphere. This doesn't there aren't nice airports in the West, it just means that the best airports are hubs to the rest of the world and as such, the best geo-societal locations are either in the East, Far East/Asia, of Europe.
Changi’s banner and logo
Changi Airport’s Jewel logo
Center of Jewel Changi Airport
A note on Jewel Changi Airport: Jewel Changi is unique as it is an entertainment and retail complex surrounded by and linked to one of the passenger terminals of Changi Airport (T2). Its centrepiece is the world's tallest indoor waterfall, the Rain Vortex, that is surrounded by a terraced forest setting. Jewel includes gardens, attractions, a hotel, about 300 retail and dining outlets, as well as early baggage check-in aviation facilities. It covers a total gross floor area of 135,700 m2, spanning 10 stories – five above-ground and five basement levels. Its attractions include the Shiseido Forest Valley, an indoor garden spanning five storeys, and the Canopy Park at the topmost level, featuring gardens and leisure facilities.
SINGAPORE CHANGI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, or simply Changi Airport; ICAO code: WSSS. One of the largest transport hubs in Asia, and indeed the world. It is the home base of BOC Aviation - an independent state-owned aircraft leasing company of Singapore-, and Jetstar Asia Airways - a Qantas low-cost, full-service subsidiary-, as well as the country's flag carrier of Singapore Airlines, its cargo division Singapore Airlines Cargo and its low-cost subsidiary Scoot. Singapore is a choice location for favorable layovers. It is also a key focus city for Qantas - flag carrier of Australia. Changi Airport has four main passenger terminals arranged in an elongated inverted "U" shape with Jewel in the center of the "U" shape. Currently, the airport has a designed total annual handling capacity of 85 million passengers. As one of the world's busiest airports by international passenger and cargo traffic, it has been rated as the "World's Best Airport" by Skytrax a dozen times, and currently holds the title, and was the first airport in the world to hold the accolade for eight consecutive years. More than 100 airlines operate from the airport, with nonstop or direct flights to destinations in Asia, Oceania, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and North America got a true global reach. It is served by three runways; all 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) long, and consists of five terminal buildings.
BRIEF HISTORY: Prior to Changi, Singapore's main international airport was located at Paya Lebar. It had opened in 1955 with a single runway and a small passenger terminal, having itself replaced the previous Kallang Airport that began operations in 1937. The decision to move the airport from Paya Lebar to Changi was based on a number of factors. With the growth in global aviation transport, the airport was facing congestion problems. Its inability to cope with the rising traffic became critical by the 1970s; annual passenger numbers rose dramatically from 300,000 in 1955 to 1.7 million in 1970 and to 4 million in 1975. As a result, there was a need to accommodate the growing demand for air travel, the desire to establish Singapore as a global aviation hub, and the need to modernise the country's air transport infrastructure. Concerned that the existing airport was located in an area with potential for urban growth, which would physically hem it in on all sides, the government subsequently decided in 1975 to build a new airport at the eastern tip of the main island at Changi, at the existing site of Changi Air Base. However, as there was an increase in traffic, the airport still had to be expanded at that time. In addition, aircraft could fly over the sea, avoiding noise pollution issues within residential areas and avoid disastrous consequences on the ground in the event of an air mishap. Formerly known as the Singapore International Airport, the airport in Paya Lebar was subsequently converted for military use and renamed as Paya Lebar Air Base. The two airports, civil and military, essentially switched places. Changi Airport would begin commencing commercial operations on 1st of July 1981. It officially opened five months later on 29 December 1981. The airport ended its first year operations with 12.1 million passengers, close to 200,000 tons of air freight handled and 63,100 aircraft movements. Subsequent phases opened progressively within the next few decades, with Terminal 2 opening for passenger traffic in 1990, Terminal 3 in 2008, and Terminal 4 in 2017. Terminal 5, which would be larger than all the previous terminals combined, practically an airport unto itself, is expected to open in 2030.
CURRENT STATISTICS:
Changi airport has won over 620 awards since its opening, including 28 "Best Airport" awards in 2019 alone. Changi Airport's efforts to mitigate the effects of ageing infrastructure include continual physical upgrades to its existing terminals and building new facilities to maintain its high standards in airport service quality. Changi Airport has four main passenger terminals, as noted, arranged in an elongated inverted "U" shape with Jewel in the centre of the "U" shape. Currently, the airport has a designed total annual handling capacity of 85 million passengers. There is also a privately run luxury terminal called the JetQuay CIP Terminal but don't let the fancy name fool you. It is very similar to the Lufthansa First Class Terminal at Frankfurt Airport, but unlike Lufthansa, the terminal is open to all passengers travelling in all classes on all airlines, but with an access fee. In a longer explanation: JetQuay CIP Terminal, is a privately run terminal, located in between T2 and the VIP terminal. JetQuay provides private check-in, baggage handling, and immigration clearance services. It is the second luxury airport terminal in the world to open after the Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt Airport. However, unlike the Lufthansa First Class Terminal, JetQuay is an elite, dedicated CIP (Commercially Important People) terminal that can be used by any passenger travelling in any class, on any airline, through any terminal (T1, T2, T3, or T4).
OVERVIEW OF TERMINALS:
Changi Airport's oldest terminal operated as the sole terminal from its opening on 1 July 1981 right up until the opening of Terminal 2 nine years later. Configured in an H-shaped layout to maximise the number of aerobridges that may be built, it underwent two major upgrading works over its lifespan. A major refurbishment was completed in 1995 at a cost of S$170 million and work to extend two finger piers to add 14 aerobridges at a cost of S$420 million that took place from 1996 to 1999. Today, the terminal spans an area of 308,000 m2 and can accommodate a maximum passenger capacity of 21 million passengers a year. As of 12 July 2012, a S$500 million facelift for Terminal 1 has been completed, completing the terminal's largest renovation to date, involving works on its facade and halls under a theme called "Tropical City". About 22,000 m2 (meters squared) have been added to the building, bringing the total floor space of T1 to about 308,000 m2. The larger floor area provides for more spatial comfort, better passenger flow, additional facilities and expanded retail and F&B offerings.
The refurbishment includes the installation of a two-part kinetic sculpture, Kinetic Rain, which was billed as the largest kinetic sculpture in the world. As of September 2019, another S$323 million upgrade of Terminal 1 was completed, comes mainly from the addition of more self-service check-in kiosks as well as bag-drop machines that allow travellers to print their own luggage tags. In addition, the baggage claim floor area was almost doubled in size and T1's baggage handling system were fully automated, in line with the rest of the airport's terminals. The Southwest Finger (the terminal branches are called Fingers) of Level 3 of Terminal 1 has the head office of Jetstar Asia Airways and Scoot.
Terminal 2: Terminal 2 opened on 22nd of November, 1990 as part of Phase II in the original airport masterplan. Deploying in a linear configuration parallel to the runways, T2 is located adjacent to Terminal 1 towards the south, and heralded the opening of the original skytrain system linking the two terminals via the landside. All Singapore Airlines and SilkAir flights moved to the new terminal when it opened, along with several Southeast Asian carriers including Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines and Royal Brunei Airlines. They were joined by several airlines, some of which are allied to Singapore Airlines, in particular Lufthansa, another fellow Star Alliance member. The fourth storey of the terminal houses the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. In addition Terminal 2 houses the offices of the Air Accident Investigation Bureau of Singapore and Changi Airport Group.
On 15 July 2013, the Airport unveiled its latest themed garden that has a display of colours and interactive technology – a first for Changi Airport, which has pioneered the concept of airport gardens since its opening in 1981. The new 'Enchanted Garden' – Changi Airport's fifth themed garden – takes pride in the spot where the Fern Garden once stood. It is open, free of charge, to passengers round-the-clock. Motion sensors trigger sounds of nature and blooming flowers while fibre-optic and LED lighting, embedded in the flooring, form a fascinating carpet of sparkling lights. There is also a pond containing Archerfish and Koi.
On 16th of January 2020, upgrading works were announced for Terminal 2. They will include more nature-inspired design (which replaces the Orchid Garden), 15,500 sq m more space, two more baggage belts, more automated immigration counters and automated machines, along with a fully automated early baggage storage system. A new duplex food and beverage area will be set up at the north end of the terminal that leads to Jewel Changi Airport, along with a new food cluster at the south end. New lounge areas will be set up in the arrival hall. The works will be completed by late in 2024, resulting in increased handling capacity of five million passengers a year, being 90 million in total.
On 11th of October, 2022, Terminal 2 resumed its departure operations after the COVID Emergency, but only in the southern wing of the terminal. As such, Terminal 2 is 50% operational; with the southern wing being fully operational for arrivals and departures. Expansion and upgrading works in the northern wing of Terminal 2 are expected to be completed by sometime in 2024.
The old Budget Terminal: Changi Airport was the second in Asia (after Kuala Lumpur International Airport) to open a dedicated terminal catering to the budget traveller. The name of the Budget Terminal was decided as a result of a naming contest open to the public. However, the terminal is not included in the numbering scheme, even though it is the third passenger terminal to be opened when it opened on 26 March 2006; and Terminal 3 is actually the fifth terminal to be opened at the airport (with the fourth being the cargo terminal). To offer lower landing fees, handling fees and airport taxes, it cuts back on amenities such as aerobridges, elaborate physical structures and decorations in the passenger terminal building. There is no transfer facility at the Budget Terminal nor any lounge or groundside amenities.
2nd of March, 2012, it was announced that the Budget Terminal would be permanently closed on 25th of September, 2012 and demolished to make way for Terminal 4. All airlines previously operating from the Budget Terminal moved to Terminal 2.
CIP Terminal: uniquely, JetQuay CIP Terminal, is a privately run terminal, located in between T2 and the VIP terminal. JetQuay provides private check-in, baggage handling, and immigration clearance services. It is the second luxury airport terminal in the world to open after the Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt Airport. However, unlike the Lufthansa First Class Terminal, JetQuay is an elite, dedicated CIP (Commercially Important People) terminal that can be used by any passenger travelling in any class, on any airline, through any terminal. Terminal 3: one of Changi Airports newest terminals, the interior architecture of Terminal 3 won the Honour Award from ASLA in 2009.
Singapore Airlines operated the first flights into Terminal 3 on 9 January 2008, with flight SQ001 from San Francisco via Hong Kong arriving at 1150 hours to a welcome ceremony by Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lim Siang Keat Raymond and the chairman of CAG, Liew Mun Leong. The first departure flight, SQ318, took off at 1250 hours bound for London-Heathrow. Since then, its regional flights to East Asia and India and long–haul flights bound for Australasia, Middle East, North America, South Africa and Western Europe will depart from T3 while other regional flights to Bangladesh, Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka depart from T2, becoming the first and only airline to operate from multiple terminals in Changi Airport.
Terminal 3 Continued: China Eastern Airlines, Jet Airways, Qatar Airways and United Airlines also moved operations to the terminal on New Year's Day, the 1st of January 2008. Garuda Indonesia, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Vietnam Airlines and Sri Lankan Airlines have also moved operations to T3 in 2011. In 2013, Asiana Airlines and Lion Air have also moved operations to T3. Ethiopian Airlines and Spring Airlines used to operate from Terminal 3. On 2nd of July, 2015, China Airlines and EVA Air shifted its operations to T3. On 31 May 2022, Singapore Airlines fully reopened its SilverKris and KrisFlyer Gold lounges at Changi Airport Terminal 3, after a $50 million upgrading project that began in 2019. The upgraded lounges (The Private Room, the First Class section of the SilverKris Lounge, the Business Class section of the SilverKris Lounge, and the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge) collectively accommodate around 1,150 customers - a 30 per cent increase from previous capacities. The lounges occupy a total area of 6,100 sq m, being slightly smaller than the size of a football pitch. The lounges feature dedicated rooms for passengers to nap, more charging ports, and more seats, among other improvements such as bars and a range of food options, including local food such as laksa, chwee kueh and dim sum.
Terminal 4: Changi Airport Terminal 4 is the fifth passenger terminal at Singapore Changi Airport and opened on 31st of October 2017. It sits on the former Singapore Changi Airport Budget Terminal and cost S$985 million and took a little more than 2 years to construct. It has won numerous awards including a special one from Prix Versailles Architectural Award for South Asia. Under a new concept of "Fast And Seamless Travel at Changi" (FAST@Changi via Twitter), it sees options such as self-service check-in; and automated bag drop, immigration clearance, and boarding being rolled out extensively in the new building. Terminal 4 is a two-storey, 25-metre-high building with a gross floor area of 225,000 square metres. 17 stands are available for narrow-body aircraft, 4 stands for wide-body aircraft. A bridge across Airport Boulevard was constructed to enable buses and other airside vehicles to move from T4 to the aircraft stands. A new dedicated 68-metre-high Ramp Control Tower was also built to "enhance air traffic controllers' management of aircraft movements in the apron and taxiways around the terminal". It is connected to the other terminals by complimentary shuttle bus services. Local cultural and heritage items are used to decorate the terminal's interior. The retail space at the 'Heritage Zone' will feature traditional Peranakan shop front facades. Changi Airport Group (CAG) has given out all its 80+ concession contracts to various retail and food and beverage outlets including but not limited to Charles & Keith, Coach & Furla, Gassan Watches, Michael Kors, London Fat Duck, Old Street Bak Kut Teh and Sushi Goshin by Akashi. The Petalclouds are another key feature in Terminal 4 involving 6 separate features hanging from the room and with 16 moving parts. There are a total of 21 contact gates and 8 bus gates in Terminal 4, numbered Gates G1 to G21 and Gates H1 to H8. Gates G1 to G17 can only be used by single-aisle aircraft such as the Airbus A320 & Boeing 737, while Gates G18 to G21 can be used by both single-aisle & wide-bodied aircraft. Single-aisle aircraft can also utilise the Multiple Aircraft Receiving Stands (MARS) at Gates G18 to G21, which are designated as Gates G18L to G21R. Bus Gates H1 to H8 are located on the ground floor in an annex next to the Heritage Zone and serve planes that are parked at remote stands. A fifth terminal, Terminal 5, will be ready in the next decade as announced by the then Transport Minister, Lui Tuck Yew on 7 May 2013.
Forthcoming Terminal: Terminal 5 will be built on 1,080 hectares of reclaimed land in Changi East, making it one of the largest terminals in the world, scheduled for completion in the 2030s and costing around USD $10bn. The terminal could handle a capacity of 50 million passengers annually in the first phase and another 20 million in the second phase.
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DOHA HAMAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, QATAR: ICAO: OTHH. Home of Qatar’s flag carrier airline, Qatar Airways. Located east of its capital, Doha, it replaced the nearby Doha International Airport as Qatar's principal and main national airport. Formerly known as New Doha International Airport, Hamad International Airport was originally scheduled to open in 2008, but after a series of costly delays, the airport finally opened six years overdue on 30 April 2014 with a ceremonial Qatar Airways flight landing from nearby Doha International. Qatar Airways and all other carriers formally relocated to the new airport on 27 May 2014. The airport is named after the previous Emir of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Hamad International Airport was designed to cater for a projected ongoing increase in the volume of traffic. The airport has an initial annual capacity of 29 million passengers, three times the current volume. Upon completion, it will be able to handle 50 million passengers per year, although some estimates suggest the airport could handle up to 93 million per year, making it the second largest airport in the region after Dubai. It is also expected to handle 320,000 aircraft movements and 2 million tonnes of cargo annually. The check-in and retail areas are expected to be 12 times larger than those at the current airport. The airport will be two-thirds the size of Doha city. The airport has an oasis theme. Many of the buildings have a water motif, with wave-styled roofs and desert plants growing in recycled water. The airport is built over 22 square kilometres (8.5 sq mi), half of which is on reclaimed land. Cargo operations began from 1 December 2013, with an inaugural flight by Qatar Airways Cargo arriving from Europe. The original soft launch on 2 April 2013 was cancelled just a few hours prior, and was postponed indefinitely due to unsatisfactory safety related issues that needed further reviewing taking nine months to address. Hamad International Airport was then set to begin passenger operations in January 2014, with a soft opening. Qatar Airways threatened a $600 million lawsuit against the joint venture contractor Lindner Depa Interiors for delaying the opening of the airport by failing to complete its lounges on time; LDI stated that it was delayed due to inadequate site access. Qatar Airways later blamed Bechtel for the opening delay in April of 2013, citing failures to meet regulatory requirements.
Current Operations: Hamad International Airport finally began passenger operations on 30 April 2014, with ten initial airlines operating. Qatar Airways and remaining airlines started operations to Hamad Airport on 27 May 2014 at 09:00 (Qatar time). An expansion plan announced in September 2015 called for an extension of the check-in area, an expansion of concourses D and E into a 1.3 km long concourse, a new passenger amenity area in the D/E complex with lounges, shops and restaurants. As part of this expansion plan, the Doha Metro was extended to the airport with the opening of the red line airport branch in December 2019. In 2016, the airport was named the 50th busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic, serving 37,283,987 passengers, a 20.2% increase from 2015. In 2019, the airport witnessed a 12.4% increase in annual passenger traffic. More than 38.8 million passengers arrived at the airport in 2019, up from 34.5 million in 2018.
TERMINALS: only information is freely available on Terminal 1: Terminal 1: Concourse A has 10 passenger gates connected to jet bridges and is located west of the check-in area and Main Terminal. Two of the gates are designed to accommodate the Airbus A380. Concourse B has 10 passenger gates connected to jet bridges and is located east of the check-in area. It has opened on April 30, 2014 with 10 airlines transferring operations over from Doha International Airport. Two of the gates are built to accommodate the Airbus A380 superjumbo jetliner. There is a small coffee shop located at the end of Concourse B, as well as smoking rooms, family areas, and an express duty-free store. Concourse C has 13 passenger gates connected to jet bridges, two of them built specifically for the Airbus A380. There are 10 remote gates without a fixed jet bridge link connected to Concourse C. This Concourse has opened on 27th of May, 2014. Concourse D is fully operational. Gates 1–4 are on the first floor and Gates 18–24 are on the ground floor. (Gates 2 and 4 will be permanently closed due to ongoing expansion). Terminal 1 features First (called Al Safwa First Class Lounge) and Business Class (called Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge) lounges which were opened by Qatar Airways CEO, Akbar Al Baker on 20 June 2014. Since 2016, a cable-drawn Cable Liner has connected Halls A and B over a distance of around 500m Indoors with Halls D and E, with availability 24 hours a day.
THE LAMP BEAR: The most prominent figure inside the airport as a whole is a giant bronze statue of a teddy bear with its head in a lamp. The untitled sculpture, often known as "Lamp Bear", is one of three creations by Swiss artist Urs Fischer and is on display at the grand foyer of the airport's duty-free shopping hall. Standing at seven meters tall and weighing approximately 18-20 tons, the statue was previously displayed at the Seagram Building's plaza in New York City before being purchased by a member of the Qatari royal family at a Christie's auction for USD $6.8 million. In 2018 the airport added a new sculpture in their terminal, called Small Lie by American artist Kaws which was a donation from the Qatar Museums. Runways: The airport has two parallel runways, located 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from each other, which are designed for simultaneous take-offs and landings. The first is 4,850 m × 60 m, and is considered to be the longest runway in Western Asia, and also one of the longest runways in the world. The second runway is 4,250 m × 60 m.
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TOKYO HANEDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, AKA TOKYO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, OR Tōkyō Kokusai Kūkō, ICAO: RJTT. It serves as the primary base of Japan's two major domestic airlines, Japan Airlines (Terminal 1) and All Nippon Airways (Terminal 2), as well as Air Do, Skymark Airlines, Solaseed Air, and StarFlyer. It is located in Ōta, Tokyo, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of Tokyo Station. The Japanese government encourages the use of Haneda for premium business routes and the use of Narita for leisure routes and by low-cost carriers. However, the major full-service carriers may have a choice to fly to both airports. Haneda handled 87,098,683 passengers in 2018; by passenger throughput, it was the third-busiest airport in Asia and the fourth-busiest in the world, after Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport (Asia's busiest), and Dubai International Airport. It is able to handle 90 million passengers per year following its expansion in 2018. With Haneda and Narita combined, Tokyo has the third-busiest city airport system in the world, after London and New York. In 2020, Haneda was named the second-best airport after Singapore's Changi Airport and the World's Best Domestic Airport. As of 2021, Haneda was rated by Skytrax as the second Best Airport in-between Qatar's Hamad International Airport and Singapore's Changi Airport, and further, maintaining its best Domestic Airport title from the previous year. Haneda has consistently rated in the top 3 of global airports.
BRIEF HISTORY: On September 12, 1945, General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers and head of the Occupation of Japan following World War II, ordered that Haneda be handed over to the occupation forces. On the following day, he took delivery of the airport, which was renamed Haneda Army Air Base, and ordered the eviction of many nearby residents in order to make room for various construction projects, including extending one runway to 1,650 meters and the other to 2,100 meters. Haneda was mainly a military and civilian transportation base used by the U.S. Army and Air Force as a stop-over for C-54 transport planes departing San Francisco, en route to the Far East and returning flights. A number of C-54s, based at Haneda AFB, participated in the famous Berlin Airlift. These planes were specially outfitted for hauling coal to German civilians. Many of these planes were decommissioned after their participation due to coal dust contamination. Several US Army or Air Force generals regularly parked their personal planes at Haneda while visiting Tokyo. During the Korean War, Haneda was the main regional base for United States Navy flight nurses, who evacuated patients from Korea to Haneda for treatment at military hospitals in Tokyo and Yokosuka. US military personnel based at Haneda were generally housed at the Washington Heights residential complex in central Tokyo (now Yoyogi Park). Haneda Air Force Base received its first international passenger flights in 1947 when Northwest Orient Airlines began DC-4 flights across the North Pacific to the United States, and within Asia to China, South Korea, and the Philippines. Pan American World Airways made Haneda a stop on its "round the world" route later in 1947, with westbound DC-4 service to Shanghai, Hong Kong, Kolkata, Karachi, Damascus, Istanbul, London and New York, and eastbound Constellation service to Wake Island, Honolulu and San Francisco. The U.S. military gave part of the base back to Japan in 1952; this portion became known as Tokyo International Airport. The US military maintained a base at Haneda until 1958 when the remainder of the property was returned to the Japanese government. The Tokyo Monorail opened between Haneda and central Tokyo in 1964, in time for the Tokyo Olympics. During 1964, Japan lifted travel restrictions on its citizens, causing passenger traffic at the airport to swell.
MODERN ERA: The introduction of jet aircraft in the 1960s followed by the “Queen of the Skies” Boeing 747, in 1970, also required various facility improvements at Haneda, including extending Runway 4/22 over the water and repurposing part of Runway 15R/33L as an airport apron. A new international arrivals facility opened in June 1970.While most international flights moved from Haneda to Narita in 1978, airlines of the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan) continued to use Haneda Airport for many years due to the ongoing political conflict between the Taiwan and the People's Republic of China (mainland China). China Airlines served Taipei and Honolulu from Haneda. A new international terminal opened next to the domestic terminal in March 1998. Taiwan's second major airline, EVA Air, joined CAL (China Airlines) at Haneda in 1999. All Taiwan flights were moved to Narita in 2002, and Haneda-Honolulu services ceased. In 2003, JAL, ANA, Korean Air and Asiana began service to Gimpo Airport in Seoul, providing a "scheduled charter" city-to-city service. In 2004, Terminal 2 opened at Haneda for ANA and Air Do; the 1993 terminal, now known as Terminal 1, became the base for JAL, Skymark and Skynet Asia Airways, and JAL expanded its footprint into the northern wing of the terminal. While service to Seoul, Taipei, Shanghai and other regional destinations continued to be allowed during the day, long-haul services were initially limited to overnight hours as late as 2011. Many long-haul services from Haneda struggled, such as British Airways service to London (temporarily suspended and then restored on a less than daily basis before becoming a daily daytime service) and Air Canada service to Vancouver (announced but never commenced until Air Canada began a code share on ANA's Haneda-Vancouver flight). Delta Air Lines replaced its initial service to Detroit with service to Seattle before cancelling the service entirely in favor of the daytime services to Los Angeles and Minneapolis (although both the Detroit and the Seattle services have since resumed as daytime services). In October 2013, American Airlines announced the cancellation of its service between Haneda and New York JFK stating that it was "quite unprofitable" owing to the schedule constraints at Haneda.
Daytime international slots were allocated in October 2013. In the allocation among Japanese carriers, All Nippon Airways argued that it should receive more international slots than Japan Airlines due to JAL's recent government-supported bankruptcy restructuring, and ultimately won 11 daily slots to JAL's five. Nine more daytime slot pairs were allocated for service to the United States in February 2016. They were intended to be allocated along with the other daytime slots, but allocation talks were stalled in 2014, leading the Japanese government to release these slots for charter services to other countries. The new daytime slots led to increased flight capacity between Tokyo and many Asian markets, but did not have a major effect on capacity between Japan and Europe, as several carriers simply transferred flights from Narita to Haneda (most notably ANA and Lufthansa services to Germany, which almost entirely shifted to Haneda). In an effort to combat this effect, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport gave non-binding guidance to airlines that any new route at Haneda should not lead to the discontinuation of a route at Narita, although it was possible for airlines to meet this requirement through cooperation with a code sharing partner (for instance, ANA moved its London flight to Haneda while maintaining a code share on Virgin Atlantic's Narita-London flight). An expansion of the new international terminal was completed at the end of March 2014. The expansion includes a new 8-gate pier to the northwest of the existing terminal, an expansion of the adjacent apron with four new aircraft parking spots, a hotel inside the international terminal, and expanded check-in, customs/immigration/quarantine and baggage claim areas. In addition to its international slot restrictions, Haneda remains subject to domestic slot restrictions. PROBLEMS: Haneda suffers from airspace restrictions due to its position between Yokota Air Base to the west and Narita International Airport to the east. Due to these airfields' requirements and noise concerns, Haneda flights generally arrive and depart using circular routes over Tokyo Bay. A new arrival corridor over western Tokyo and a new departure corridor over Yokohama, Kawasaki and central Tokyo, which is limited to afternoon hours, was added on 29 March 2020. Additional taxiways must be constructed in order for Haneda to handle more flights, and construction is expected to take around three years.
TERMINALS: All three passenger terminals are managed and operated by private companies. Terminal 1 and 2 are managed by Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd. (Nippon Kūkō Birudingu Kabushikigaisha), while Terminal 3 is managed by Tokyo International Air Terminal Corporation (Tōkyō Kokusai Kūkō Tāminaru Kabushikigaisha). The critical facilities of the airport such as runways, taxiways and aprons are managed by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. As of March 2013, Terminal 1 and 2 have 47 jetways altogether.
Terminal 1 called "Big Bird" opened in 1993, replacing the smaller 1970 terminal complex. It is exclusively used for domestic flights within Japan and is served by Japan Airlines, Skymark Airlines, and StarFlyer’s routes. The linear building features a six-story restaurant, shopping area and conference rooms in its center section and a large rooftop observation deck with open-air rooftop café. The terminal has gates 1 through 24 assigned for jet bridges and gates 31–40 and 84–90 assigned for ground boarding by complimentary shuttle bus. TERMINAL 2:
Terminal 2 opened on December 1, 2004. The construction of Terminal 2 was financed by levying a ¥170 (from 1 April 2011) passenger service facility charge on tickets, the first domestic Passenger Service Facilities Charge (PSFC) in Japan. Terminal 2 is served by All Nippon Airways, Air Do, and Solaseed Air for their domestic flights. On March 29, 2020, some international flights operated by All Nippon Airways were relocated to Terminal 2 after the addition of international departure halls and CIQ facilities (Customs, Immigration, Quarantine) in preparation for 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. However, the international departures and check-in hall was closed indefinitely on April 11, 2020, less than two weeks since its opening, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it was announced that the international flight area of Terminal 2 would reopen from 19 July 2023 with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and border controls. The terminal features an open-air rooftop restaurant, a six-story shopping area with restaurants and the 387-room Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu. The terminal has gates 51 through 73 assigned with jet bridges (gates 51 to 65 for domestic flights, gates 66 to 70 for domestic or international flights, gates 71 to 73 for international flights), gates 46–48 in satellite, and gates 500 through 511 (for domestic flights) and gates 700 through 702 (for international flights) assigned for ground boarding by shuttle bus. TERMINAL 3: Terminal 3, formerly called International Terminal, opened on October 21, 2010, replacing the much smaller 1998 International Terminal adjacent to Terminal 2. The terminal serves most international flights at Haneda, except for some All Nippon Airways flights departing from Terminal 2. The first two long-haul flights were scheduled to depart after midnight on October 31, 2010, from the new terminal, but both flights departed ahead of schedule before midnight on October 30. Terminal 3 has airline lounges operated by All Nippon Airways (Star Alliance), Japan Airlines (oneworld), Cathay Pacific Airways (oneworld), and Delta Air Lines (SkyTeam). Including a Marketplace, the terminal has gates 105–114 and 140–149 assigned with jet bridges and gates 131 through 139 assigned for ground boarding by bus. The International Terminal was renamed to Terminal 3 on March 14, 2020, as Terminal 2 began handling some international flights operated by All Nippon Airways from March 29, 2020. FACTOID: In 2022, Haneda Airport was the most on-time international airport with the fewest delays. Flights departing Haneda had a 90.3% on-time departure rate across 373,264 total flights according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
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SEOUL INCHEON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA. ICAO: RKSI. Often referred to as Seoul–Incheon International Airport, is the largest airport in South Korea. It is the primary airport serving the Seoul Capital Area and one of the largest and busiest airports in the world. As of 2021, the airport has been rated by Skytrax as the fourth-best airport in the world. Skytrax also has rated the airport as the world's best international transit airport and one of the world's cleanest airports. The airport is one of Skytrax's 5-star airports and also has been awarded for the best airport security in 2021. As of 2021, the airport has been rated by Skytrax as the fourth-best airport in the world. Skytrax also has rated the airport as the world's best international transit airport and one of the world's cleanest airports. The airport is one of Skytrax's 5-star airports and also has been awarded for the best airport security in 2021. During the entire run of the best airport worldwide ranking by Airports Council International (ACI) from 2005 to 2011, Incheon International Airport topped the ranking every year. ACI also rated the airport as the best airport in Asia-Pacific for 10 consecutive years from 2006 to 2016 until the ranking series ended in 2017. Airport amenities include a golf course, spa, private sleeping rooms, an ice skating rink, a casino, indoor gardens, video game center and the Museum of Korean Culture. The airport's average departure and arrival take 19 minutes and 12 minutes respectively, as compared to a worldwide average of 60 minutes and 45 minutes, ranking it among the fastest airports in the world for customs processing. Its duty-free shopping mall has been rated the world's best for three years in a row in 2013 by Business Traveller Magazine. Incheon International Airport also reports a 0.0001% baggage mishandling rate. Incheon Airport opened for business on 29 March 2001 to replace the older Gimpo International Airport, which now serves mostly domestic destinations and shuttle flights to several East Asian metropolitan areas, to Beijing Capital, Osaka Kansai, Shanghai Hongqiao, Taipei Songshan and Tokyo Haneda. The airport was constructed to share the demand for air transport in the 21st century and to serve as a hub airport in Northeast Asia. Incheon International Airport was named the winner of the World's Best Transit Airport in 2020. Terminal 2 at Incheon International Airport was named World's Best Airport Terminal in 2020. After the 1988 Summer Olympics, international air traffic to South Korea increased. In the 1990s, it became apparent that Gimpo International Airport could not cope with the increase in air traffic. To reduce the load on Gimpo International Airport, the government decided to build a new international airport. The new airport was originally planned to be located in Cheongju, 124 km southeast of Seoul, but due to its distance, it was opposed by Seoul and Gyeonggi citizens. [citation needed] Hwaseong was the other choice, but it was also rejected due to similar reasons. In November 1992, the construction of the Incheon airport began on reclaimed land between Yeongjong Island and Youngyu Island and took eight years to finish, with an additional six months for testing. Completion was initially scheduled for 1997 but delayed due to the economic crisis. The airport was officially opened on 21 March 2001. On 15 November 2006, the Airbus A380 landed at the airport as part of the first leg of its certification trip. Tests on the runways, taxiways, and ramps showed that the airport could handle the aircraft. STATISTICS: Located 48 km (30 mi) west of Seoul, the capital and the largest city of South Korea, Incheon International Airport is the main hub for Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jeju Air, and Polar Air Cargo. The airport serves as a hub for international civilian air transportation and cargo traffic in East Asia. In 2016, the Incheon International Airport was the fifth-busiest airport in the world and third in Asia by cargo traffic, and 19th in the world and eighth in Asia by passenger traffic. In 2016, the airport served a total of 57,849,814 passengers. TERMINALS: Terminal 1, measuring 496,000 square meters, is the largest airport terminal in the area in South Korea. The terminal has 44 boarding ports (all of which can accommodate the Airbus A380), 50 customs inspection ports, 2 biological quarantine counters, 6 stationary and 14 portable passenger quarantine counters, 120 arrival passport inspection counters, 8 arrival security ports, 28 departure security ports, 252 check-in counters, and 120 departure passport inspection counters. In 2015, an automatic check-in counter lane was introduced, which people travelling via Korean Air, Asiana Airlines and China Southern Airlines can use. Instead of having airport staff at the counter, there is a machine where travellers input their flight information, scan their passports, receive their flight tickets and lastly, load the luggage onto the conveyor. This system was planned to be introduced in Terminal 2, but in May 2015 Incheon Airport used one of the counter islands for the unmanned luggage handling system.
Seoul’s Incheon International Airport photographed from the air
The passenger concourse was completed at the end of May 2008. It is connected to Terminal 1 by two parallel 870-metre-long (2,850 ft) underground passageways equipped with IATs (Intra Airport Transit). It has 30 gates and six lounges (Asiana Airlines/Star Alliance, Singapore Airlines/Star Alliance, Japan Airlines/Oneworld, Korean Air/SkyTeam, and China Eastern Airlines/SkyTeam).
TERMINAL 2: A new passenger terminal opened on 18 January 2018, and Korean Air, KLM, Delta Air Lines, and Air France flights were relocated from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2. Other SkyTeam members such as Aeromexico, China Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, XiamenAir, Czech Airlines and Aeroflot started serving the Terminal 2 on 28 October 2018. From 1 July 2023, Jin Air, the subsidiary of Korean Air will operate at Terminal 2. And the rest of the SkyTeam members, such as Vietnam Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines and Saudia, will be relocated to Terminal 2 after the Phase 4 construction work is completed.
AWARDS & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Incheon International Airport has been the recipient of a number of awards since its opening, including but not limited to:
Best Airport Worldwide at the first Airport Service Quality Awards in 2007.
The GT Tested Award for Best Airport in the World in January 2007.
Position of Seoul’s Incheon Airport in relation to the coast of South Korea
Named by Global Traveler (GT) magazine as the Best Airport in the World for the second straight year in January 2008.
Named World's Best Airport for 2009, in the World Airport Survey results published by Skytrax.
In 2012 it was ranked the best airport in the world by Skytrax.
In 2018, Incheon International Airport won the Asian Big Airport of the Year award.
Award for the Best Innovation in Airport Passenger Related Processes from ACI in 2023.
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And finally…
Signature of Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris, France
5. ROISSY CHARLES DE GAULLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, PARIS, FRANCE, ICAO: LFPG. Known commonly as Roissy Airport or simply Paris CDG, it is the principal airport serving the French capital, Paris (and its connected metropolitan area), and the largest international airport in France, and one of the largest in the European Union. Opened in 1974, and located in Roissy-en-France, 23 km northeast of Paris, the airport is named after statesman and WWII commanding general Charles de Gaulle (1890–1970).Charles de Gaulle Airport serves as the principal hub for the state flag carrier Air France and a destination for other legacy carriers (from Star Alliance, Oneworld and SkyTeam), as well as a focus city for easyJet. It is operated by Groupe ADP under the naming brand Paris Aéroport. In 2022, the airport handled 57,474,033 passengers and 34,657 aircraft movements, thus making it the world's ninth busiest airport and Europe's third busiest airport (after Istanbul and Heathrow) in terms of passenger numbers. Charles de Gaulle is also the busiest airport within the European Union by passenger and cargo volume, handling over 2,203,000 tons of cargo as of 2022.
It is also the airport that is served by the greatest number of airlines, with more than 105 airlines operating at the airport. As of 2017, the airport offers direct flights to the most countries and hosts the most airlines in the world.
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport covers 32.38 square kilometres (12.50 sq mi) of land. The airport area, including terminals and runways, spans over three départements (municipalities) and six communes:
Seine-et-Marne département: Le Mesnil-Amelot (Terminal 2E, Satellites S3 and S4, and Terminal 2F), Mauregard (Terminals 1, 3), and Mitry-Mory (Terminal 2G) communes;
Seine-Saint-Denis département: Tremblay-en-France (Terminals 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D and Roissypôle) commune;
Val-d'Oise département: Roissy-en-France and Épiais-lès-Louvres communes.
The choice of constructing an international aviation hub outside of central Paris was made due to a limited prospect of potential relocations or expropriations of land and the possibility of further expanding the airport as needed in the future.
Terminals 3 and Parts of T2C & 2E at Paris-CDG Airport
TERMINALS: OVERVIEW: Charles de Gaulle Airport has three terminals: Terminal 1 is the oldest and situated opposite to Terminal 3; Terminal 2 is located at another side with 7 sub-terminal buildings (2A to 2G). Terminal 2 was originally built exclusively for Air France; since then it has been expanded significantly and now houses other airlines. Terminals 2A to 2F are interconnected by elevated walkways and situated next to each other. Terminal 2G is a satellite building connected by shuttle bus.
Terminal 3 (formerly known as "Terminal 9") hosts charter and low-cost airlines. The CDG-VAL (CDGVAL) light-rail shuttle connects Terminal 2 to Terminals 1/3 and their parking lots.
Prior to the pandemic, Charles de Gaulle Airport had assigned all Star Alliance members to use Terminal 1, Oneworld members to use Terminal 2A and SkyTeam members to use Terminals 2C, 2E (intercontinental), 2D, 2F and 2G (European routes). The airport has rearranged the assignments many times due to the pandemic.
Today, the airport has arranged Star Alliance airlines to use Terminal 1, Oneworld airlines to use 2 terminals: Terminals 1 for routes to Middle East and Asia and 2B for flights to the Americas, Africa, and Europe due to the closure of Terminal 2A, and SkyTeam airlines to use Terminals 2E for international routes and 2F for Schengen routes. Currently, terminals 1, 2B, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G and 3 are opened. As of April of 2023, all airlines have been relocated to their new terminal assignments.
Central Facility & Terminal 1 in the Signature “Octopus” Shape of Paris-CDG Airport
TERMINAL 1: The first terminal was built in the image of an octopus (see left). It consists of a circular terminal building which houses key functions such as check-in counters and baggage claim conveyors. Seven satellites with boarding gates are connected to the central building by underground walkways.
The central building, with a large skylight in its centre, dedicates each floor to a single function. The first floor is reserved for technical operations and not accessible to the public. The second floor contains shops and restaurants, the CDGVAL inter-terminal shuttle train platforms (for Terminal 2 and trains to central Paris) and check-in counters from a recent renovation. The majority of check-in counters, however, are located on the third floor, which also has access to taxi stands, bus stops and special pick-up vehicles. Departing passengers with valid boarding passes can reach the fourth floor, which houses duty-free stores and border control posts, for the boarding gates. The fifth floor contains baggage claim conveyors for arriving passengers. All four upper floors have assigned areas for parking and airline offices.
Passages between the third, fourth and fifth floors are provided by a tangle of escalators arranged through the centre of the building. These escalators are suspended over the central court. Each escalator is covered with a transparent tube to shelter from all weather conditions. These escalators were often used in film shootings. Terminal 1 basically serves as an alliance hub for Star Alliance and a main connector to the central hub. EVA Air joined Terminal 1 on 25 April 2023 after two years of closure of Terminal and the downsize of traffic at CDG.
Other carriers using Terminal 1 includes Aer Lingus, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Eurowings, Icelandair, Kuwait Airways and Oman Air. Terminal 2: Terminal 2 is spread across seven sub-terminals: 2A to 2G. Terminals 2A to 2F are connected by inter-terminal walkways, but Terminal 2G is a satellite building 800 m (0.5 mi) away. Terminal 2G can only be accessed by shuttle bus from Terminals 1, 2A to 2F and 3. The CDGVAL inter-terminal shuttle train, Paris R.E.R. Regional-Express and high-speed TGV rail station, Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV, is located within the Terminal 2 complex and between 2C and 2E (on one side) or 2D and 2F (on the opposite side). FUN FACTOID: Terminal 2F was used for the filming of the music video for the U2 song "Beautiful Day". The band also had their picture taken inside Terminal 2F for the album artwork of their 2000 album All That You Can't Leave Behind.
Terminals 2B and 2D is used by the majority of the airlines part of the Oneworld alliance, except Oneworld's long haul carriers to Asia and Middle East, French overseas airlines Air Austral and Air Tahiti Nui, and all other non-SkyTeam short-haul and mid-haul airlines who do not operate from Terminal 1. Star Alliance carrier Croatia Airlines and SkyTeam carrier Czech Airlines also use this terminal. On 18 April 2023, Star Alliance carrier Air Canada transferred its operations from Terminal 1 to this terminal.
Air France widebodies outside Terminal 2E and 2F, notably featured here are Boeing 777s.
Terminals 2E and 2F are dedicated use for Air France and its SkyTeam partners except Czech Airlines (Terminal 2D, flag carrier of Czechia) and Saudia (Terminal 1, flag carrier of Saudi Arabia). Several other carriers also use Terminal 2E, these are Star Alliance carriers Air China, Ethiopian Airlines, and Thai Airways International, Oneworld carrier Japan Airlines and non-aligned carriers Air Mauritius, China Southern Airlines, Gulf Air, LATAM Chile, and WestJet. EVA Air used Terminal 2E during the downturn of traffic at CDG Airport during the pandemic, but moved back to join its fellow Star Alliance airlines at the reopened Terminal 1 on April of 2023.
COLLAPSE:
Photo of the Collapsed Terminal 2E, c. 2004
On 23rd of May in 2004, shortly after the inauguration of terminal 2E, a portion of it collapsed near Gate E50, killing four people. Two of the dead were reported to be Chinese citizens, one Czech and the other Lebanese. Three other people were injured in the collapse. Terminal 2E had been inaugurated in 2003 after some delays in construction. Before this accident, Paris Aeroport had been planning for an initial public offering in 2005 with the new terminal as a major attraction for investors. The partial collapse and indefinite closing of the terminal just before the beginning of summer seriously hurt the airport's business plan. In February 2005, the results from the administrative inquiry were published. The experts pointed out that there was no single fault, but rather a number of causes for the collapse, in a design that had little margin for safety. The inquiry found the concrete vaulted roof was not resilient enough and had been pierced by metallic pillars and some openings weakened the structure. Sources close to the inquiry also disclosed that the whole building chain had worked as close to the limits as possible, so as to reduce costs. The eventual reconstruction replaced the innovative concrete tube style of the jetty with a more traditional steel and glass structure. During reconstruction, two temporary departure lounges were constructed in the vicinity of the terminal that replicated the capacity of 2E before the collapse. The terminal reopened completely on 30 March 2008.
TERMINAL 2G: Terminal 2G, dedicated to regional Air France and HOP! flights and its affiliates, opened in 2008. This terminal is to the east of all terminals and can only be reached by shuttle bus. Terminal 2G is used for passengers flying in the Schengen Area (and thus has no passport control) and handles Air France regional and European traffic and provides small-capacity planes (up to 150 passengers) with a faster turnaround time than is currently possible by enabling them to park close to the new terminal building and boarding passengers primarily by bus, or walking. A bus line called "navette orange" connects the terminal 2G inside the security check area with terminals 2E and 2F. Passengers transferring to other terminals need to continue their trip with other bus shuttles within the security check area if they do not need to get their bags.
Terminals 2E:
Terminal 2E Hall L (Satellite 3)
The completion of 750 m (2,460 ft) long Satellite 3 (or S3) to the immediate east of Terminals 2E and 2F provides further jetways for large-capacity airliners, specifically the Airbus A380. Check-in and baggage handling are provided by the existing infrastructure in Terminals 2E and 2F. Satellite 3 was opened in part on 27 June 2007 and fully operational in September 2007. It corresponds now to gates L of terminal 2E.
Terminal 2E Hall M (Satellite 4)
The satellite S4, adjacent to the S3 and part of terminal 2E, officially opened on 28 June 2012. It corresponds now to gates M of terminal 2E. Dedicated to long-haul flights, S4 has the ability to handle 16 aircraft at the same time, with an expected capacity of 7.8 million passengers per year. Its opening has led to the relocation of all SkyTeam airlines to terminals 2E (for international carriers), 2F (for Schengen European carriers) and 2G.
TERMINAL 3:
Terminal 3 is located 1 km (0.62 mi) away from Terminal 1. It consists of one single building for arrivals and departures. The walking distance between Terminals 1 and 3 is 3 km (1.9 mi) long, however, the rail station (named as "CDG Airport Terminal 1") for RER and CDGVAL trains are only at a distance of 300 m (980 ft). Terminal 3 has no boarding gates constructed and all passengers are ferried via boarding buses to the aircraft stands.
Roissypôle
Roissypôle is a complex consisting of office buildings, shopping areas, hotels, and a bus coach and RER B station within Charles de Gaulle Airport. The complex includes the head office of Air France, Continental Square, the Hilton Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, and le Dôme building. Le Dôme includes the head office of Air France Consulting, an Air France subsidiary. Continental Square has the head office of Air France subsidiary Servair and the Air France Vaccinations Centre.
RER
Charles de Gaulle Airport is connected to central Paris by the RER B, a hybrid suburban commuter and rapid transit line. The service has two stations on the airport grounds:
Paris-CDG R.E.R transit
Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1 station, located inside Roissypôle and next to Terminal 3. The station provides the fastest access to Terminal 1 via a connection on CDGVAL.
Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV station, located between Terminals 2C, 2D, 2E, and 2F.
During most times, there are two types of services that operate on the RER B between Charles de Gaulle airport and Paris:
4 trains per hour making all stops between Charles de Gaulle airport and Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse
4 trains per hour that offer non-stop express service between Charles de Gaulle airport and Gare du Nord and then all stops to Massy–Palaiseau.
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Haneda Airport c. 1953, Tokyo
Haneda Airfield, 1930.
