The 11 most outrageous airport interiors in the world
MASSIVE, beautiful, weird, wonderful, futuristic and fun. Here are some of the world's best - and the craziest - airport interiors.
MASSIVE, beautiful, weird, wonderful, futuristic and fun.
Here are some of the world's best - and the downright craziest - airport interiors, according to travel website Skyscanner.com.au.
1. Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok, Thailand
Ancient meets modern minimalism in the main concourse of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, designed by Helmut Jahn. Suvarnabhumi - "the airport of smiles" - has the proud claim to fame of the world's tallest freestanding control tower (123 metres if you were wondering).
2. Beijing Capital International, China
Beijing's Terminal 3, built in time to cope with the extra millions of passengers coming for the 2008 Olympic Games, is the second largest airport terminal in the world after Dubai International Airport's Terminal 3 (more of that later).
3. Chicago O'Hare, US
Moving walkways are cool, but colourful moving walkways, like this one in Chicago, are cooler. Along with going on the monorail back and forth between terminals, jumping off the end of "travelators", as they're sometimes called, is one of the most fun ways to spend your time at an airport.
4. Singapore Changi
The departure lounge at Singapore's Changi airport looks like it was modelled on an imaginary retro-futuristic fast food outlet. Or Universal Studios. Or maybe a flying saucer landed on the first floor food court? Check out the matching floor and ceiling too.
5. Dubai International, UAE
Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport is, you guessed it, the single largest building in the world by floor space. It's Dubai, what do you expect, small and subtle?
6. Lyon St. Exupery, France
If you arrive at Lyon's St. Exupéry Airport by TGV or the Rhône Express from the city centre, it's a long walk to check-in, especially if you're laden down with bags and you're leaving from Terminal 3. But do look up to appreciate the architecture
7. Madrid - Barajas, Spain
If you can get over the sensation that you are under attack from a swarm of alien jellyfish, and that you have landed in Madrid in 1968, appreciate the wonder of the arrival hall at Barajas, which looks like an unused set from 2001: A Space Odyssey.
8. Munich, Germany
Horizontalators don't come much more D.I.S.C.O. than this example at Munich Airport. They really should pump out Stayin' Alive. You'll catch Saturday night fever even if it's Monday morning.
9. Charles de Gaulle, Paris
If, like the author, you missed your flight home from Paris because you were toasting your engagement with a bottle of champers on a bench outside Charles de Gaulle, then spent five hours drinking gin, slumped staring at the ceiling, this view will be familiar.
10. Shanghai Pudong, China
Asia boasts some of the world's most architecturally-exciting airports, and Shanghai Pudong International is no exception. The exterior of Terminal 1 is shaped like waves, while arrival by escalator feels like an ascent into a sci-fi flick version of heaven.
11. Ronald Reagan Washington National, US
There's no mistaking which country you're in, however jet-lagged you're feeling. The Reagan's classical style, redolent of tearful goodbyes in a 1920s railway station, eschewts the futurism of most major international airports.
Read more travel news at Skyscanner.com.au.
Qantas changes entire in-flight menu
Qantas has changed its in-flight menu across its entire domestic network for both economy and business class passengers.
Qantas’ nightmare, airline sides with Virgin
Qantas previously lobbied the government to block this major airline from expanding in Australia – but things have taken a surprising turn.
One of the world’s oldest airlines to close
One of the world’s oldest running airlines is to close after nearly 100 years of operation.