Fun facts about airports
Behind-the-scenes facts about the world's busiest aviation hubs.
The construction of Incheon International Airport began on reclaimed land between Yeongjong Island and Youngyu Island.
Incheon International Airport
South Korea
Incheon International Airport is the main international airport serving Seoul, the capital of South Korea. It is one of the largest and busiest airports in the world.
From the “History” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: Korea Aerospace Research Institute · KOGL Type 1
The old Baiyun Airport opened in 1932 and was closed when the new airport opened on 5 August 2004.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
China
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is the international airport serving Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
From the “Overview” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: Jacky Cheung · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dubai International Airport officially opened on 30 September 1960, initially handling aircraft the size of a Douglas DC-3 on a runway made of compacted sand.
Dubai International Airport
UAE
Dubai International Airport is the primary international airport serving Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic as of 2025.
From the “History” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: NASA · Public Domain
The first landing of a supersonic Concorde in the United States occurred during the open house and dedication ceremony of DFW Airport.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
United States
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is the primary international airport serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and the North Texas region, in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located approximately 16 miles (26 km) northwest of Downtown Dallas and 20 miles (32 km) northeast of Downtown Fort Worth.
From the “History” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: Todd MacDonald · CC BY 2.0
Beijing Capital International Airport was opened on 1 March 1958.
Beijing Capital International Airport
China
Beijing Capital International Airport is the busier of the two international airports serving Beijing, the capital city of China. The airport is located 32 km (20 mi) northeast of downtown Beijing, in an exclave of Chaoyang and the surroundings of that exclave in suburban Shunyi.
From the “History” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: Simply Aviation · CC BY 4.0
Hartsfield–Jackson was initially developed on an abandoned auto racetrack named The Atlanta Speedway.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
United States
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the primary international airport serving Atlanta and its surrounding metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Georgia. Located 10 mi south of the Downtown Atlanta district, it is named after former Atlanta mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson.
From the “History” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: Zixed11 · CC0
Soekarno–Hatta International Airport was officially inaugurated by then-President Soeharto on 1 May 1985.
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport
Indonesia
Soekarno–Hatta International Airport, also sometimes abbreviated as SHIA or Soetta, and formerly named Jakarta Cengkareng Airport due to its location in Cengkareng district, is the primary airport serving the Jakarta metropolitan area on the island of Java in Indonesia.
From the “History” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: InJourney Airports · Public Domain
The airport opened on October 1, 1928, and the first structure, Hangar No. 1, was erected in 1929.
Los Angeles International Airport
United States
Los Angeles International Airport is the primary international airport serving Los Angeles and its surrounding metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of California.
From the “History” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: Don Ramey Logan · CC BY-SA 4.0
The name Suvarṇabhūmi means 'land of gold' in Sanskrit.
Suvarnabhumi Airport
Thailand
Suvarnabhumi Airport is the main international airport serving Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. It is one of two airports serving Bangkok, the other being Don Mueang International Airport (DMK).
From the “Etymology” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: Airports of Thailand · Public Domain
The airport's land area is the largest of any commercial airport in North America, allowing it to fit several major airports within its property.
Denver International Airport
United States
Denver International Airport is an international airport in the Western United States, primarily serving metropolitan Denver, Colorado, as well as the greater Front Range Urban Corridor.
From the “Facilities” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: Murphpics · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hong Kong International Airport was built on a large artificial island formed by flattening and levelling the former Chek Lap Kok and Lam Chau islands.
Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong
Hong Kong International Airport is an international airport located on the island of Chek Lap Kok in western Hong Kong. It is sometimes referred to Chek Lap Kok airport to distinguish it from its predecessor, Kai Tak Airport.
From the “History” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: Dinkun Chen · CC BY-SA 4.0
The control tower of Istanbul Airport is shaped like the Turkish national flower, the tulip.
Istanbul Airport
Turkey
Istanbul Airport is the larger of two international airports serving Istanbul, Turkey. It is located in the Arnavutköy district on the European side of the city. It is the largest airport in Turkey, the largest privately-owned airport operation in the world, and the second busiest airport in Europe.
From the “History” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: Kulttuurinavigaattori · CC BY-SA 4.0
John F. Kennedy International Airport opened in 1948 as New York International Airport, commonly known as Idlewild Airport.
John F. Kennedy International Airport
United States
John F. Kennedy International Airport is a major international airport serving the New York metropolitan area. It is located on the southwestern shore of Long Island, in Queens, New York City, bordering Jamaica Bay.
From the “History” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: User:KenzieAbraham · CC BY-SA 4.0
Frankfurt Airport is surrounded by the Frankfurt City Forest.
Frankfurt Airport
Germany
Frankfurt Airport is Germany's busiest international airport by passenger numbers, located in Frankfurt, Germany's fifth-largest city. Its official name according to the German Aeronautical Information Publication is Frankfurt Main Airport.
From the “Location” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: Steffen Wurzel · CC BY-SA 3.0
O'Hare was originally a manufacturing plant for Douglas C-54 Skymasters during World War II.
O'Hare International Airport
United States
Chicago O'Hare International Airport is the primary international airport serving Chicago, Illinois, United States, located on the city's Northwest Side, approximately 17 miles (27 km) northwest of downtown. The airport is operated by the Chicago Department of Aviation and covers 7,627 acres.
From the “History” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: NASA Johnson Space Center · Public Domain
Charles de Gaulle Airport covers 32.38 square kilometres of land.
Charles de Gaulle Airport
France
Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport, also known as Roissy Airport, is the primary international airport serving Paris, the capital of France. The airport opened in 1974 and is located in Roissy-en-France, 23 km (14 mi) northeast of the city centre of Paris.
From the “Location” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: NASA · Public Domain
The name Schiphol might originate from the term 'graveyard of ships' due to many ships found their demise in the Haarlemmermeer.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Netherlands
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, known informally as Schiphol Airport, is the main international airport of the Netherlands, and is one of the major hubs for the SkyTeam airline alliance. It is located 9 kilometres southwest of Amsterdam, in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer in the province of North Holland.
From the “Etymology” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: Fyodor Borisov · CC BY-SA 3.0
Heathrow Airport was opened on 25 March 1946 as London Airport and was renamed in September 1966.
Heathrow Airport
United Kingdom
London Heathrow Airport — named London Airport until 1966 — is the primary and largest international airport serving London, the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It is the largest of the six international airports in the London airport system.
From the “History” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: Konstantin Von Wedelstaedt · GFDL 1.2
The first flight from Haneda Airport on 25 August 1931 carried a load of insects to Dairen in the Kwantung Leased Territory.
Haneda Airport
Japan
Haneda Airport , officially Tokyo International Airport and sometimes abbreviated to Tokyo-Haneda, is a Japanese international airport, the busier of the two serving the Greater Tokyo Area, the other being Narita International Airport (NRT).
From the “History” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: ブルーノ・プラス · CC BY 4.0
Changi Airport serves more than 100 airlines flying to 170 cities in around 100+ countries and territories worldwide.
Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore
Changi Airport is the main international airport of Singapore, and functions as one of the most significant aviation gateways in the Asia-Pacific region.
From the “Overview” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: LN9267 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Incheon International Airport is the main hub for Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jeju Air, and Polar Air Cargo.
Incheon International Airport
South Korea
Incheon International Airport is the main international airport serving Seoul, the capital of South Korea. It is one of the largest and busiest airports in the world.
From the “Operations” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: Korea Aerospace Research Institute · KOGL Type 1
O'Hare is the first major airport to build an apiary on its property, hosting up to 75 hives and a million bees.
O'Hare International Airport
United States
Chicago O'Hare International Airport is the primary international airport serving Chicago, Illinois, United States, located on the city's Northwest Side, approximately 17 miles (27 km) northwest of downtown. The airport is operated by the Chicago Department of Aviation and covers 7,627 acres.
From the “Facilities” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: NASA Johnson Space Center · Public Domain
Suvarnabhumi Airport was officially opened for limited domestic flight service on 15 September 2006.
Suvarnabhumi Airport
Thailand
Suvarnabhumi Airport is the main international airport serving Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. It is one of two airports serving Bangkok, the other being Don Mueang International Airport (DMK).
From the “History” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: Airports of Thailand · Public Domain
Terminal 1 of Soekarno–Hatta International Airport can handle 9 million passengers per annum.
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport
Indonesia
Soekarno–Hatta International Airport, also sometimes abbreviated as SHIA or Soetta, and formerly named Jakarta Cengkareng Airport due to its location in Cengkareng district, is the primary airport serving the Jakarta metropolitan area on the island of Java in Indonesia.
From the “Facilities and development” section
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: InJourney Airports · Public Domain
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