Top 10 Most Creative and Unique Airports in the World

In the early summer of 2016, the architectural firm Gensler - known for its impressive airport projects - participated in designing and building a park on the roof of the JetBlue terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The first impression of passengers is the lush greenery of this airport, offering a wonderful stopover and relaxation after long flights. Previously, before the park was built, passengers and pets had to pass through security to access the restroom. But now they can walk on the cool green roof to reach the restroom directly. Recently, the JetBlue terminal has also opened a farm cultivating over 2,000 types of vegetables, herbs, and other plants. These crops will become fresh, clean, and safe food served in the airport's restaurants to serve passengers.

Americans traveling internationally through JFK Airport accounted for 17% of all U.S. outbound travelers in 2004, the highest of all U.S. airports. In 2000, JFK served approximately 50,000 international passengers per day. The JFK-London Heathrow route is the top U.S. international airport pair with over 2.9 million passengers in 2000. Other top international destinations from JFK include Paris, Frankfurt, and Tokyo. Nearly 100 airlines from 50 countries operate regularly from JFK. Although JFK Airport is renowned as the leading international hub airport of New York City and the United States, it also serves domestic routes, mostly to the West Coast of the United States. In 2005, the airport served 41 million passengers; Newark Liberty Airport served approximately 33 million passengers, and LaGuardia Airport served around 26 million passengers, totaling approximately 100 million passengers using New York City's airports, surpassing that of Chicago, the city with the largest airport passenger usage in the United States.

Incheon International Airport, or simply Incheon Airport, is the main international airport serving the capital city of Seoul, South Korea, and is the largest airport in South Korea. It is one of the busiest and most bustling aviation hubs in the world, serving as a vital gateway to East Asia and Asia as a whole. Ranked as the world's second-best airport after Changi Airport, Incheon International Airport showcases an international-scale infrastructure with numerous shops, restaurants, and various other attractive amenities. Designed and built as a miniature city, Incheon International Airport offers a wide range of basic services such as free showers, medical services, postal services, dry cleaning, beauty salons, two large cinemas, a golf course, an ice skating rink for sports enthusiasts, a casino, and a Korean cultural museum along with 90 duty-free shops offering a diverse range of products from affordable to luxury items.

This airport began operations in 2001 to replace Gimpo Airport, which later became a domestic airport with only a few short international flights to Tokyo-Haneda, Shanghai-Hongqiao, and Osaka-Kansai. Incheon Airport has now become a major hub for transit flights, passengers, and cargo for the entire East Asian region. The airport ranks as the 8th busiest in Asia and 15th busiest in the world for cargo transportation, and the 11th busiest in the world for passenger transportation as of 2006. Incheon Airport currently features a golf course, spa services, private sleeping rooms, hotels, a casino, indoor gardens within the terminals, shopping areas, entertainment facilities, extensive dining options, and a Korean cultural museum.

Singapore Changi International Airport, designed by SAA (Aviation Academy Singapore) - the authority managing and providing aviation service standards in Singapore. To harness natural rainwater resources, Changi International Airport has equipped a rainwater collection and treatment system for long-term usage instead of letting them drain away. The airport's roof is also fitted with numerous water conduits to channel water to an underground reservoir. The designers have even ingeniously built a unique butterfly garden to allow passengers to experience a free tour of Singapore right at the airport. Singapore Changi International Airport consistently ranks among the top airports globally. It is renowned as a passenger paradise with multiple amenities, including free gaming zones, convenient showers, cinemas, and a large swimming pool. Outside the airport lies a cactus garden along with various green spaces, providing a comfortable atmosphere for passengers after long and tiresome flights.

Changi Airport comprises 3 terminals connected by a conveyor belt system. A third terminal (T3) was constructed and completed in 2007. The airport's capacity (as of 2009) is 73 million passengers per year. Changi can accommodate the gigantic Airbus A380 aircraft, which Singapore Airlines introduced in October 2007. By October 2017, Terminal 4 had been completed, becoming the most modern terminal at the airport. Currently, the Singaporean government is constructing Terminal 5 for Changi Airport. Besides numerous duty-free shops and eateries, Changi Airport also features six open gardens. Airport visitors can explore these gardens, each hosting a different plant group: cacti, bamboo, heliconia, sunflower, orchid, and fern. There are many commercial centers surrounding Changi Airport. The international transit areas of terminals 1 and 2 offer internet services, gaming facilities, entertainment zones, prayer rooms, showers, beauty parlors, fitness centers, swimming pools, and even a hotel. There are ample seating areas for waiting passengers, some of which also include children's play areas or TVs showing news programs or movies.

San Francisco International Airport serves the city of San Francisco, California (USA). The airport is located 21 km south of San Francisco, near the cities of Millbrae and San Bruno in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County. It offers flights throughout the Americas and serves as a major gateway to Europe, Asia, and the Pacific. Within San Francisco International Airport, Terminal 2 is a favorite spot for travelers due to its wide array of dining options featuring fresh and delicious food sourced from the Bay Area. Excess food is recycled through the most scientific and professional processes. A notable feature within Terminal 2 is the construction of a spacious yoga room and a unique art exhibition space. Upon stepping into this terminal, visitors are immersed in a forest of exquisite art paintings, meticulously sculpted and adorned.

San Francisco International Airport is the largest airport in the San Francisco Bay Area. The airport has 4 runways. In 2007, it served 35,793,117 passengers, ranking 23rd busiest in the world. It is a hub for United Airlines and Virgin America. The airport is connected to the outside by a freeway, Highway 101, and the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system with stations linking to one of the airport's passenger terminals. The intersection of Highway 380 and Highway 101 north of the airport also facilitates connections to the region's road network. San Francisco International Airport offers various amenities for passengers, including restaurants, shopping areas, luggage storage, public shower facilities, medical clinics, assistance for lost travelers, and military personnel. The airport houses the Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum, the San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library, and features both permanent and temporary art exhibitions in multiple locations within the terminals. T-Mobile provides free Wi-Fi internet access at the terminals.

Helsinki Airport serves as the shortest transfer point between Europe and Asia. Visitors can indulge in yoga classes, immerse in steam baths, enjoy massages, use the free Wi-Fi system, find numerous wireless charging stations for gadgets, and explore a complimentary art exhibition room. It also provides specially designed movable beds, the first in Europe. The world's first airport Hackathon was held at Helsinki Airport, organized by renowned designers Dag Englund and Vera Rosendahl, attracting over 100 developers who competed for 48 hours to find innovative digital ideas to transform airports into tourist magnets. Codercoded emerged as the winning team, developing a new in-flight app to help passengers reduce travel anxiety.

The international and domestic terminals are 250m apart, connected by internal walkways for both airside and landside passengers. However, the airside part of the terminal is not under a roof and the space is not divided into domestic and international but into Schengen and non-Schengen areas. The Aviapolis area for international businesses is planned to be constructed within the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport area. A training link, Kehärata, to Helsinki's center is planned. Helsinki-Vantaa is the operational hub of Finnair, the national airline of Finland. It is also the hub of Blue1, a regional branch of SAS. The Aviapolis area for international businesses is planned to be constructed within the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport area. A rail link to Helsinki's center has been planned. Helsinki-Vantaa was voted the best airport in the world in the IATA theme survey in 1999. In 2006, the Passenger satisfaction survey ranked Helsinki-Vantaa Airport as one of the best airports worldwide, and according to the European Airline Association's punctuality rate, Helsinki-Vantaa is the most punctual airport in Europe. The airport is managed by Finavia.

6. Carrasco International Airport, Montevideo, Uruguay

Carrasco International Airport is the largest airport in Uruguay. Located north of Ciudad de la Costa in Canelones, near (east of) the capital Montevideo. Ciudad de la Costa. This airport serves over 1.5 million passengers annually and is projected to reach 2.8 million passengers in 2010. In 2003, the Uruguayan government transferred the management, operation, and maintenance rights of this airport to a private investment group. The airport is currently undergoing upgrade fees. Carrasco International Airport Uruguay, commonly known as Carrasco General Cesareo L. Berisso International Airport, is a privately owned and operated airport by Puerta del Sur company. This company was appointed by the Uruguayan government in 2003 to improve and operate the airport to make it the main aviation hub for Uruguay - Turning it into the largest airport in the country and directly charging airport fees. This airport is one of two airports in Uruguay with year-round international flights, located just north of Ciudad de la Costa in Canelones, 11 miles (18km) east of the capital Montevideo.

The airport features a blend of architecture between natural eco-space and modern infrastructure. Carbon emissions at this airport are among the lowest compared to many other international airports. The arrivals area is a mezzanine surrounded by glass to orient passengers to the entire terminal space before descending to the departure area and other service areas. Additionally, the second floor of the building includes a restaurant along with an observation deck with great views of the runway and main terminal. Currently, a project to install over 40,000 m2 of solar energy panels along with wind turbines to supply operational energy for the entire airport is being implemented. On February 3, 2007, a new terminal worth $134 million was started construction in parallel with runway 06/24. Designed by Uruguayan architect Rafael Viñoly, this terminal will have a parking lot with a capacity of 1200 cars and is scheduled to open in 2009. A cargo terminal worth $7 million is also under construction. Runway 06/24 has been upgraded and extended to 3200 m.

7. Munich International Airport, Germany

Munich International Airport or Munich Airport is an airport located 28 km (17 miles) northeast of Munich, Germany and is a hub for Lufthansa and Star Alliance member airlines. The airport is situated in the Erdinger Moos area adjacent to the city of Freising. The airport is named in memory of the statesman Franz Josef Strauss. Munich Airport was designed by the renowned architect Helmut Jahn. The central area of Munich Airport features a specially designed canopy with seasonal adaptability. A unique feature is that passengers arriving at this center can experience surfing on artificial waves in the summer, enjoy traditional German beer in October, and shop to their heart's content in Christmas shops when December comes. Throughout the year, the airport hosts numerous important events. Some of the most attractive destinations include family weekend buffet parties, art exhibitions, and passengers get to experience unique sensations on simulated flights.

This airport began operations in 1992, replacing the old international airport at München-Riem. When construction began in 1980, a village called Franzheim had to be demolished, and the 500 residents of this village were resettled elsewhere in the area. Due to the overload of Lufthansa's base at Frankfurt Airport in terms of air traffic volume and limited serving capacity, cities with air traffic volumes were served through Munich Franz Josef Strauss Airport as well as Frankfurt International. The airport is named after Franz Josef Strauss, who played an important role in German politics. Strauss served as the Prime Minister of Bavaria (Munich Airport is located in this state). During his tenure, the airport was planned. Strauss himself was a pilot, and he was particularly interested in aviation and infrastructure. From this airport, the city center of Munich can be reached by the S1 and S8 S-Bahn München train lines, taking about 45 minutes and costing 8.8 EUR one way. Taking a taxi costs about 50 EUR and may encounter traffic jams. There are plans to build a maglev train line (Transrapid) connecting this airport to the city center.

Dubai International Airport serves Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is the primary airport of Dubai. It is the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic. It is the hub of Emirates, the third-busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic, the sixth-busiest cargo airport in the world, the busiest airport for Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 movements, and the busiest airport in the world operating with only two runways. In 2007, the airport served 34,348,110 passengers, ranking 27th busiest in the world. As of July 2010, there were over 6,000 weekly flights operated by 130 airlines to over 215 destinations across all continents except Antarctica. In 2017, DXB handled 88 million passengers, 2.65 million tonnes of cargo, and 409,493 aircraft movements. It will compete with Al Maktoum International Airport, a 140 km² airport planned in Dubai. In 2011, the airport served 50.98 million passengers, and in 2014, it was 70.4 million passengers. In 2017, DXB served 88 million passengers, 2.65 million tonnes of cargo, and 409,493 aircraft movements.

Dubai International Airport is located in the Al Garhoud district, 4.6 km east of Dubai, spreading over an area of 1,200 ha. Terminal 3 is the second-largest building in the world by floor space and the largest airport terminal in the world. The airport is operated by Dubai Airports Company and is the primary base for Dubai's international airlines, Emirates and flydubai. Emirates' hub is the largest airline hub in the Middle East, with Emirates accounting for 51% of all passenger traffic and approximately 42% of all aircraft movements at the airport. Dubai Airport is also the base for low-cost carrier flydubai, handling 13% of passenger traffic and 25% of DXB flights. The airport has a total capacity of 90 million passengers per year. As of January 2016, there were over 7,700 weekly flights operated by 140 airlines to over 270 destinations on all continents except Antarctica. Few airports in the world can be considered wonders, but Dubai International Airport is such a feat. The airport, designed and built by the renowned architectural firm Dar Al Handasah, features a prayer room, a dedicated children's play area, a medical center, and a fitness center with a large swimming pool. Upon entering the terminal, passengers are greeted with towering palm trees and vibrant walkways.

9. Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Selangor, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur International Airport is the largest airport in Malaysia and one of the busiest in Asia. Built at a cost of USD 3.5 billion, it was inaugurated on June 27, 1998. Designed by Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa, the airport is located 50 km from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. In 2009, the airport served 29.6 million passengers (lower than the expected 35 million). It features a 130m-high air traffic control tower, the second tallest in the world (after Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok), with two runways measuring over 4,000m long and 60m wide, capable of handling 120 flights per hour. The airport is planned to have 4 runways. Kuala Lumpur International Airport seamlessly blends nature and architectural artistry. The airport's vaulted roof is made of easily removable curved panels, allowing for expansion projects.

What's remarkable about this airport is its location amidst lush tropical rainforests, covering nearly 10,000 hectares. Everywhere in Kuala Lumpur International Airport, from the ceilings to the terminal halls, meticulous design inspired by Islamic architecture and traditional Malaysian cultural materials is evident. The airport serves as the hub for Malaysia Airlines and the terminal for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore route operated by both Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines. Kuala Lumpur International Airport is one of Malaysia's international airports. Kuala Lumpur recently inaugurated another international budget airport, designated as KLIA 2, ranking among the world's largest budget airports. Here, travelers are provided with many amenities, including safe and warm overnight accommodations. With such amenities combined with the increasing popularity of tourism in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur International Airport is sure to be discovered by more and more travelers.

10. Heathrow International Airport, London, UK

With its impressive age and architecture, Heathrow International Airport has long been an iconic landmark of the city of London. Welcoming approximately 79 million passengers each year, it is one of the busiest airports in the world. What sets this airport apart is its ability to cater to multiple airlines simultaneously. Known simply as Heathrow, it is the international airport serving the capital city of London and ranks as the world's third busiest airport in 2005, following Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport. However, Heathrow serves more international passengers than any other airport. Heathrow is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the largest in Europe. Situated 24 km east of Charing Cross, the center of London, the airport features 2 parallel runways running east-west and 5 passenger terminals. Terminal 5 is newly constructed, with plans for additional terminal redevelopment and expansion.

In 2015, the airport served 67.7 million passengers. Plans are underway for the construction of a third runway. Once Terminal 5 and Runway 3 are completed, the airport will have a design capacity of 115 million passengers per year. In terms of passenger traffic, Heathrow is the world's third busiest airport, after Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport, as of September 2014. From 2000 to 2013, it ranked third for 10 out of 14 years, with an average position of 3.14. In 2017, Heathrow was the busiest airport in Europe in terms of total passenger traffic, with over 13.9% more passengers than Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and 23.0% more than Frankfurt Airport. However, it ranked second after Charles de Gaulle in terms of total flight movements in 2011, with an operating output of less than 5.1% and lower than Charles de Gaulle Airport. Heathrow is the third busiest airport in Europe in terms of cargo traffic in 2013, following Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and Frankfurt Airport.