Airports are natural hubs of humanity. They are always busy, at any given moment thousands of people are coming or going and there are innumerable people who work at airports taking care of the infrastructure and the smooth running of the place. But there are some airports which even in these hubs of activity stand head and shoulders above the others due to the large number of people who use them.
These are the ten busiest airports in the world – in no particular order – (some due to the large number of travellers, others due to the large number of international destinations served):
1. London Heathrow Airport – London, United Kingdom:
Heathrow, London’s main airport is the entry point to many places in Europe. It is the biggest in the United Kingdom and it handles the most international passengers in the world. It is the major hub of British Airways, one of the world’s largest airlines and it also has the world’s busiest airspace.
2. Frankfurt International Airport – Frankfurt, Germany:
In cargo traffic this is the busiest airport in Europe, and in passenger traffic it is the third busiest. It was built by the Nazis in 1936, and after many renovations and improvements it today stands as a symbol of German technology and efficiency.
3. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia:
For over 10 years this airport has been rated as the busiest in the world due to its central position and due to the fact that it handles a large number of passengers travelling to the Caribbean, Eastern United States, and South America. It serves over 88 million passengers in a year, and most of them are domestic passengers.
4. Dubai International Airport, Dubai:
Dubai is the largest city of UAE and it’s airport is a major aviation hub of the Middle East. There are over 6000 weekly flights to over 220 destinations throughout the world. Their Terminal 3 is the single largest building in the world by floor space.
5. Amsterdam Airport, Schiphol, Netherlands:
This is Netherlands major airport and is the primary hub for KLM. It has a large shopping plaza, which can also be used by non-travellers since it is located just before customs. It was opened in 1916 as a military airbase, and today it is Europe’s 3rd largest airport.
This airport has interiors that scream 1980’s. The airport needs major overhauling. Traveling from one terminal to another is tedious and the place is crowded. Another major issue is that there is always a long queue at security check. Few terminals are filthier than others.
Several people have found this airport mocks the fact that it is located in a modernized country. It is considered as one of the filthiest and disorganized of all the airports. If you are stuck in transit here, it is advisable that you carry a cushion along as the metal seating is painful. The toilets are best avoided because they are filthy and the stench can make you throw up. The terminals are small, badly designed and poorly lit. At times the air conditioner in the passengers lounge is not working and dirty.
When you arrive at terminal 2, 3 and 4 you are in for a rude shock, this “Gateway to America” desperately needs to be razed and rebuilt. The floor is beyond filthy, and when you reach the immigration you have to walk bare feet which could be a traumatizing affair. It is badly lit and desperately needs cleaning. The staff adds to your woes. They are very unruly and treat the passengers badly.
When you enter the airport you know that the airport was constructed in a different century. The state of the airport is sad to say the least and is in a desperate need for revamping. It is wise to clean the seats before you sit. The toilets are dirty; the stench excruciating. The airport is dimly lit to make matters worse. It is wise to avoid drinking and eating here.
This is by far the most chaotic and the dirtiest airport. The business lounge is much better but they do not have toilets. There is always a queue in the toilets and the reek. The toilets are best avoided. The staff are equally unpleasant and disrespectful adding to the woes. They are also money minded and try to scam and tip you off.
Asian airline was established in the year 1988 as South Korea’s airline. In the present times, this airline has up to fifty nine aircraft in its fleet managing hundred destinations across the world. The airline services have been revised from time to time, to offer the best according to the varying needs of the passengers. The options like magic shows and delicacies created by the professionals of the culinary art help Asiana Airlines, out do its competition.
When the Singapore Airlines commenced in the year 1947, they were known as the Malayan Airways Limited. The airline now has alliance with the global Star Alliance. The Singapore flight attendant model is the only one to make it to the Madame Tussaud’s Museum in London
This airline started its flight in the year 1994 and has its headquarters located in Doha. The Qatar Airways is not a part of any global alliance. Though this airline is relatively new, it has not faced any fatal crash in its history of more than a decade of flying.
This airline was founded by two former air force pilots in the year 1946. The headquarters for Cathay Pacific is situated in Hong Kong and the airline is a member of Oneworld. In Chinese, Cathay Pacific stands for ‘grand and peaceful state’ while in English it is the older name of China.
It is an international and domestic airline group providing services not only within New Zealand, but other parts of the world as well. Its aircraft 747-400 is the largest passenger interior volume of any commercial airliner till date. The 747-400 tail height is 19.4 m, equivalent to a six-story building.
