Right now, it might be hard to imagine wandering round a busy, international airport, but there are also airports that are extinct. You can walk through the security, look at the gates and if you are adventurous, even see the runways. We created a list of the most beautiful ones for you!
Where are some of the world’s abandoned airports?
- Berlin Tempelhof
- Kai Tak Airport Hong Kong
- Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Tucson
- Croydon Airport
- Floyd Bennett Field
Berlin Tempelhof
A great example of an abandoned airport is in Berlin: Tempelhof Airport. A place with an awful lot of history! It was built by the Nazis during the First and Second World Wars, but they never used it as an airport. Nowadays, it is used as an event space and you will also find the largest refugee camp in Germany.
Kai Tak International Hong Kong
Formerly known as “Hong Kong International Airport”, Kai Tak Airport is nowadays it is a cruise terminal, but up until 20 years ago it was an... interesting airport! Landing and taking off was not an easy task, as planes had to make a turn of 90 or even 180 degrees immediately after take-off. Landing was quite a challenge especially with bad weather or in the typhoon season. Fortunately, it's a lot easier for the cruise ships now!
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Tucson
In Tucson, USA, you'll find Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, founded in 1925, which was home to the Air Force of America. Now you'll find the Prima Air & Space Museum AND a huge boneyard where more than 4400(!) old planes are stored. These include old aircrafts used in the Cold War and the Vietnam War. You can see all of them, but you have to book a tour in advance!
Croydon Airport
Before London Heathrow Airportbecame London’s primary international airport, there was Croydon Airport until its closure in 1959. Between the First and Second World Wars, Croydon served as UK’s primary and only international airport. It was the first airport with an air traffic control and airport terminal. Also, this was where Charles Lindbergh arrived in “Spirit of St. Louis” after completing his first solo trans-Atlantic flight from New York to Paris. Although most of the former airport has been built over, the former terminal building, Airport House and control tower, serves as a visitors’ centre.
Floyd Bennett Field in New York
South of Manhattan, on a sea-by-sea peninsula, is Floyd Bennett Field: New York's first municipal airport, which ceased aviation operations back in 1939 at the time when LaGuardia Airport commenced operations. Since 1972, the United States National Park Service has offered a range of activities, including camping, archery, hiking, biking, fishing and much more. There are also old planes to admire, this time in a large hangar!
Take some time during your holiday to discover them yourself, you won't regret it!
