The Ups and the Downs of Airports: Accolades and Criticisms All Around

When was the last time you arrived at, or left from an airport and actually enjoyed the experience?

Those who have had the experience of landing at Lagos, Nigeria; Bombay, India; Karachi, Pakistan, or even San Juan, Puerto Rico, will need no further evidence that at least for them, whatever pleasure they had in flying to these destinations was immediately forgotten in the nightmare of confronting their respective airports.

Security issues aside, most airports have no excuse for not being designed better to make flying easier and more comfortable.

The case is often made that airports were designed for the convenience of airlines, not people.

There are a number of airports around the world (and even a few in the U.S.) that make flying more than just tolerable. They are thoughtfully designed and are efficiently operated.

If you’re flying to Europe, try landing at Copenhagen. At Kastrup Airport, 70% of all operations belong to SAS, one of the most efficient airlines in the world. The airline handles the other 30% belonging to 43 international carriers as well. Most travelers find the 23-year-old terminal and its 30 check-in counters a very efficient operation. More than 25,000 bags are quickly sorted, loaded and unloaded daily. SAS catering makes more than 22,000 hot and cold meals a day for outgoing flights.

Thanks to SAS’ computerized planning system, most transfer passengers do a minimum of walking--75% of them never have to change boarding piers when changing planes. There is an abundance of free baggage carts and it’s not unusual to see a handful of SAS two-wheeled scooters parked near the boarding gates for airport personnel. It is also not unusual to see a late and harried passenger borrow one to zip to the gate.

Within One Complex

Some airports look as if they were designed by a conspiracy of sadistic labyrinth-lovers. Not Amsterdam’s Schipol, easily one of Europe’s most negotiable airports. All its gates are within one well-planned complex.

Of all the European airports, the one that comes closest to being a well-managed city is Frankfurt’s. Located on 10 square miles about five miles southwest of the center of Frankfurt, the airport is not just functional, it’s fun.

About 50,000 passengers a day come through the airport; more than 32,000 employees work there; 77 international airlines (and more than 200 charter companies) fly into Frankfurt. There are 102 shops, 26 eating facilities, four movie theaters, a discotheque, the biggest airport medical clinic in the world (three doctors and a staff of 50), and even a dentist.

Maybe that’s why more than 4,000 people who aren’t traveling flock to the airport each day just to visit. The German attention to detail and precision is proudly displayed at Frankfurt’s airport. And the baggage reliability is unparalleled.

One airport that comes close is Changi in Singapore, one of the smoothest, cleanest operations I’ve ever encountered. It runs smoothly, and things seem to happen on time.

In England travelers are anxiously awaiting the opening of the new Terminal Four at Heathrow airport which should ease things up a bit. But my favorite remains Gatwick Airport, which is everything Heathrow isn’t. Baggage is delivered quickly to the carrousels. Customs clearance is fast. Within 12 minutes of getting your bags you’re on the Rapid City rail link between Gatwick and London’s Victoria Station and 38 minutes later you’re in town. (Gatwick is served by 350 trains a day.)

Despite its uncrowded nature, Gatwick is a busy jumping off point to other European destinations. The airport offers direct, scheduled flights to more than 120 cities in more than 60 countries and has direct flights to 13 cities in the United States.

Airports in France have enjoyed a fairly surly reputation, but I am a grudging fan of Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. The design makes it a fun place to visit, and the airport features a wide variety of shops, delicatessens, record and clothing shops. And the airline VIP club lounges in Paris are worth every penny of membership.

Built With Future in Mind

There are few excellent big city airports in the United States. The Tampa airport is expansive and was built with the future in mind. The air traffic there doesn’t begin to fill the airport’s capacity.

Salt Lake City is an extremely well-designed facility. Access to the airport is easy, and while there are some long walks to the departure gates, the airport isn’t overcrowded (except on some big ski weekends).

Newark is my favorite New York area airport. The old terminals were depressing. Today the airport is bigger, brighter, and operates more efficiently than any other New York area airport. If you’re going into the city, it’s faster to land at Newark and take the bus than to catch a cab at Kennedy and negotiate traffic. It’s also cheaper.

Seattle gets the nod as another well-designed airport and it never seems crowded. I have never been stuck in traffic getting to or from Sea-Tac, even in rush hour.

There’s an excellent reason why carriers such as Eastern are now routing so many of their flights through Kansas City where it is a pleasure to land or change planes.

Baggage coming from the planes moves at record speeds to carrousels located next to the gates which are just a few feet away from ground transportation.

Los Angeles Airport

How does LAX stack up? Better than it used to but still not as good as it could be. The upper level roadway has been a great improvement in terms of airport access and the new Terminal One has been well designed in terms of passenger convenience and shopping. It is still crowded at peak international arrival times and passengers have a long walk from their planes, much of it uphill.

Then, there are the bad news airports. Overseas, the clear winner is the airport at Lagos, Nigeria. Since no one really wants to go to Lagos, one has to wonder why they even built an airport there. Leaving the airport is no more glorious than arriving, except that you are, after all leaving. Bribery, corruption and theft are considered basic tourist attractions at this airport. Needless to say, don’t accept offers of help with your luggage.

If you’re in Cairo and your plane is leaving at noon, leave for the airport at 7 a.m. Cairo traffic is legendary and the remote location of Cairo’s decaying terminals offers no consolation. The Egyptians are trying to remodel and renovate, but don’t hold your breath. Remember how long it took them to build the pyramids.

The Manila airport is a small legend in the Pacific--a legend because it is always crowded. A little more than four years ago, a new terminal was opened. It’s pleasant, quiet, and some facilities have been improved. But the crowds keep coming.

No Excuse for Hong Kong

Hong Kong has no excuse for not having a better airport. It gets crowded quickly and has only one runway. Don’t expect any bargains in the duty-free shops.

Putting aside its latest terrorist publicity, the Hellinikon airport in Athens is a designer’s mess. In fact, it’s actually two international airports, so making connecting flights can be a nightmare. It’s a seven-minute taxi ride between terminals, but when was the last time a Greek cabbie wanted to make the run?

In the U.S. confusion reigns supreme at the San Juan airport no matter what time you arrive or leave. Allow plenty of time to be bumped, pushed, hassled. And don’t forget to have your baggage misplaced for you by the airline. My advice: carry-on bags only, if possible.

The laid-back Hawaiian life style was definitely applied to the design of the Honolulu airport. The surroundings are pleasant enough, but apparently the designers thought long, lazy farewells must also include long, lazy, farewell walks to the departure gates.

Finally, an airport that wins my award for most inconsiderate passenger design is Denver’s Stapleton. One doesn’t simply walk to his flight at Denver; he survives the cross-country journey to the departure gate. Some flights are so far away that I expect some enterprising soul to inaugurate helicopter shuttle service between the ticket counters and the planes. Based on the current mess there, he could make a lot of money very quickly.