Millions of people use airports every day. And let’s be honest, most folks don’t want to spend more time at the airport than they need to. Because why bother? They are all the same. When you’ve seen one, you’ve probably seen them all – right?
Not quite. While most of the airports are practically identical, there are some that would fascinate you with their unique qualities. Whether it’s because of size, physical location or building design, we’ve found 8 airports that are so wacky and bizarre that they require more than just a pass-through.
1. Denver International Airport
Denver International Airport, Denver, Colorado, USA, is the 15th busiest airport in the world by passenger volume (5th in the U.S.), and has been a topic of conspiracy talk since it opened. Rumor has it that it was built over some top secret underground base. Only the millions of prairie dogs that live in burrows around the airport know for sure! If you take a look at the runway shape, it looks curiously like a swastika (well, at least from above). There is also the strange artwork on the airport walls that have been described as disturbing and has come under much scrutiny.
2. Agatti Airport
This unique airport, located in India, is the only airport in the world that is completely surrounded by water. Its runway is only 4,000ft long and is considered to be short and dangerous. Odd maybe because you land and then have to take a boat to your final destination. Have a nice vacation!
3. Congonhas Airport
This one is Brazil’s second busiest airport and located just a few miles from the busy city center. It looks awfully like your landing in Central Park in New York, don’t you think? Because of the airport’s close proximity to the city, it’s a real challenge for pilots to land a flight.
4. Ice Runway
It’s not exactly an airport…This is more like an isolated runway, located in Antarctica. Ice Runway serves as a landing zone for planes that bring food and supplies to over 1,000 scientists who live and work at McMurdo Station. The planes are usually large and heavy. That’s why during the summer, when the ice is too thin to support them, the residents of the station are forced to go without fresh fruits and vegetables and other essential supplies.
5. Gibraltar International Airport
This one is totally crazy. We all know that a moving vehicle is not allowed near the airport runaway. But at Gibraltar Airport, vehicles pass over the busy runway on regular basis. Why? Because the main road that connects the peninsula and the mainland passes straight over the airport runway. In order for planes to land safely, the road must be shut down and blocked while the planes land.
6. Don Muang International
Don Muang International Airport in Thailand might seem quite ordinary at first sight, but once you take a closer look, you’ll notice that there is an 18 hole golf course in between the two runways. Crazy, huh?
7. Kansai International Airport
It’s not that easy to find a large open space to land in Japan. This is why the country spent $20 billion constructing the off-coast airport. This man-made island is so huge; it can be seen from space. It is built to withstand the devastating storms and earthquakes that are common in and around Japan.
8. Barra Airport
Location – Scotland (the Hebridean island of Barra, to be more specific). This airport is the wackiest indeed. Why? Because the landings must be made only when the tide is out. Yep, you’ve heard it right. The plane lands straight on the beach.
