Gold Magazine April - May 2013, Issue 25 | Page 10

up front

The Most Fun Airports

A

irports have traditionally been places to avoid
unless you are forced to
use them. Going through
lengthy security checks
and queuing up to show
your passport are hardly
enjoyable experiences but

once you are inside, more and more airports
around the world are trying to make your
stay as interesting and exciting as possible.
In Europe, 48% of airport revenues actually
come from non-aeronautical sectors as they
attempt to liven up the pre-flight experience
by providing a variety of weird and wonderful
distractions to keep weary travellers enter-

tained. From live music concerts to contemporary art exhibitions and from IMAX cinemas
to public ice rinks, some have so much going
on they’re on the verge of becoming travel
destinations in themselves.
CNN selected seven of the world’s biggest
and busiest airports where entertainment and
leisure services are taking off in a big way.

➊ San Francisco

➋ Seoul-Incheon

➌ Singapore

➍ Nashville

Elaborate art installations are now a
common fixture at airports around
the world, but San Francisco International (SFO) was offering travelers an
insight into the aesthetic more than
30 years ago. The SFO Museum –
comprising more than 20 galleries
across four terminals – was inaugurated in 1980 and continues to host
an ever-changing schedule of exhibitions on a diverse range of subjects.
Passengers are free to browse the
airport’s myriad exhibits while nonflying visitors on day trips from the
San Francisco Bay Area are also able
to stop by. Recent events include a
collection of pan-Asian ceramics dating as far back as the seventh century AD and a photographic expose
on the secret life of plants.

Incheon Airport on the outskirts of
Seoul, South Korea, has earned
a reputation for travel excellence.
The sprawling complex is one of
the world’s busiest passenger
and cargo hubs, snapping up
the Airports Council International
world’s best airport in air service
quality award for seven consecutive years. Integral to this success
is the wide selection of fun activities and facilities to keep waiting
passengers occupied. An ice rink,
casino, spa and sauna represent
just a few of the cool distractions
on offer. A five-minute shuttle
drive away from the airport, travellers can tee off for a relaxing
round on the airport’s 18-hole
Incheon Golf Club course.

Singapore’s Changi Airport
may claim to be Southeast
Asia’s premier air cargo
hub, but it’s also one of the
original innovators in the field
of airport entertainment. The
giant facility was one of the
first to introduce free Wi-Fi
areas whilst a roof-top pool
and Jacuzzi has been open
to passengers since the late
1990s. Amenities introduced
in recent years include
an interactive art gallery,
children’s fun slide and an
on-site nature trail. Free city
tours of Singapore are also
available to any passenger
with a stopover of five hours
or more.

Nashville has long been considered one of the cradles of
American music. Elvis Presley,
Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash
have all been fixtures of the
city’s famed recording studios.
Keen to play up this lively
musical past, Nashville International Airport puts on regular
live concerts for travellers and
music enthusiasts alike. Four
stages – one located outside
security and three more beyond – host upwards of 100
free events every year.
Country music and jazz performances are staples here
but rock bands and traditional
Celtic acts are also a common
sight.

➎ Munich

➏ Sydney

➐ Hong Kong

Munich is famed for its Oktoberfest beer festival
and the city’s airport aims to bring a sample of the
alcohol-fueled fun to thirsty passengers. Airbau, a
Bavarian-style t ]