New Airport, New Opportunities: A City's Transformation

what city got a new airport

As air travel continues to rebound from the pandemic, cities around the world are building new airports and upgrading old terminals to accommodate the growing number of passengers. Building an airport is a complex and expensive project, involving various hurdles such as land access, environmental regulations, and noise impact studies. Despite the challenges, several cities have recently constructed or are in the process of constructing new airports. For example, Beijing Daxing International Airport in China, Western Sydney Airport in Australia, and Salt Lake City International Airport in the US are some of the new airports that have been built or are currently under development.

Characteristics Values
Cities with new airports Denver, Seattle, Beijing, Sydney, Berlin, Carlisle, Newark, Long Thanh, Warsaw, New Orleans
Beijing Daxing International Airport features One of the largest passenger terminals in the world, designed to reduce passengers' walking time
Western Sydney Airport location Badgerys Creek, 27 miles from the city
Berlin Brandenburg Airport status Delayed opening, initially planned for June 2012
Carlisle Lake District Airport flights Belfast, Dublin, and London
Newark Liberty International Airport $2.3 billion overhaul to mold and create some of the existing terminals into a new structure
Long Thanh International Airport designed to replace The cramped, outdated facilities at Ho Chi Minh City's existing airport
Warsaw Central Polish Airport construction Set to begin in 2021
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport Delayed twice, missed the 2019 Mardis Gras holiday, revised opening date in May 2019
LaGuardia Airport status $8 billion transformation, first new airport in the US in the last 25 years
LaGuardia Airport features New Terminal B, Delta's new Terminal C, operates alongside the historic Art Deco-style Marine Air Terminal
Missoula Montana Airport construction Phase 1 completed in January at a cost of $67 million, Phase 2 underway with a budget of $42 million
Austin-Bergstrom Airport status In the pre-planning stages, estimated cost of $1.1 billion-$2 billion
Los Angeles International Airport construction $15 billion overhaul, includes an Automated People Mover to connect to the city's public rail system
Greater Orlando Aviation Authority investments $69 million in federal funds for new connections to high-speed rail, additional parking facilities, a pedestrian bridge, and a rental car lobby
Kansas City Airport features Brand-new eateries and lounges, a sensory room, and a "practice" opportunity for anxious travelers

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Beijing Daxing International Airport

The airport's design prioritises the traveller's experience, with a reduction in walking times compared to similar hubs. It is easily accessible from the city centre, with a travel time of just 19 minutes via the Daxing Airport Express to Caoqiao Station. The airport also has a high-speed rail connection and a new motorway network, with an eventual capacity of 100 million passengers per year and seven runways as China's aviation industry continues to grow.

The construction of Beijing Daxing International Airport was approved by the National Development and Reform Commission in December 2014, and it began operations on September 26, 2019. The airport has won multiple awards and is expected to become the largest and busiest airport in the world.

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Western Sydney Airport

Sydney, Australia, is getting a new airport. Construction of the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) began in September 2018 and is expected to be completed by 2026. The airport is located 27 miles from the city in Badgerys Creek.

The new airport is designed to address the limitations of Sydney's existing Kingsford Smith airport, such as its waterfront location and nighttime curfews. The Western Sydney International Airport will be a world-class smart airport, built to service 10 million passengers annually.

The construction of the airport is expected to directly support 3,231 jobs over eight years. Additionally, the airport, combined with a business park, is predicted to support 13,169 jobs during the first five years of operation. Over the following ten years, the combined airport and business park are expected to generate 24,046 jobs.

The Western Sydney Aerotropolis, of which the airport is a key part, will contribute to the creation of 200,000 new jobs in the Western Parkland City. It will become a hub for high-skill jobs across various industries, including aerospace, defence, manufacturing, healthcare, freight, logistics, agribusiness, education, and research.

The Australian Government has established the Western Sydney Airport Corporation (WSA Co) to oversee the delivery of the airport by 2026. The government is also responsible for developing the flight paths for single runway operations at WSI by the end of 2026.

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Berlin Brandenburg Airport

The airport was initially planned to open in October 2011, five years after construction began in 2006. However, the project encountered numerous delays due to poor construction planning, execution, management, and corruption. The opening date was pushed back several times, with some sources indicating an expected opening in 2020 or 2021. Berlin Brandenburg Airport finally received its operational licence in May 2020 and commenced commercial operations on 31 October 2020, 14 years after construction started.

Schönefeld's refurbished passenger facilities were integrated as Terminal 5 on 25 October 2020, and all airlines completed the transition from Tegel to Berlin Brandenburg Airport by 8 November 2020. The airport features terminals, a visitor terrace, parking, and transport links, including connections to the city centre by train, bus, and car.

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Carlisle Lake District Airport

The history of the airport can be traced back to 2006 when WA Developments, the parent company of Stobart Group, acquired Haughey Airports and renamed it Stobart Air Ltd. WA Developments retained ownership of the airport until 2009 when Stobart Group's subsidiary, Stobart Airports Ltd, exercised its option to acquire it for £9.9 million. This marked the beginning of a new era for the airport, with plans for freight and passenger services, a new passenger terminal, and an expanded runway to accommodate larger aircraft.

In 2014, construction began on a £12 million freight distribution centre on the site, leased to Eddie Stobart Logistics. The Stobart Group also envisioned a warehousing and distribution hub adjacent to the freight centre. Financial support from the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership fuelled plans for passenger flights to key destinations, but the target date of June 2018 was postponed.

The airport has faced some challenges and controversies. In 2008, Stobart Air encountered 63 restrictive planning conditions that delayed development. Despite these hurdles, the airport pushed forward, and in 2018, it was announced that Carlisle Lake District Airport would open in 2019, offering convenient connections to major cities.

In May 2024, the airport transitioned to new ownership with A W Jenkinson at the helm. With a focus on logistics and aviation-related activities, the new owners aim to further develop the airport's potential. The airport currently serves as a base for several businesses, including flight training schools, helicopter companies, and the Solway Aviation Museum.

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Ho Chi Minh City's Long Thanh International Airport

Ho Chi Minh City is getting a new airport, the Long Thanh International Airport, which is expected to be completed by the first half of 2026. The airport is being constructed in the Long Thành district, approximately 40 km (25 mi) east of Ho Chi Minh City. It will be the second airport to serve the Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area, after the existing Tan Son Nhat International Airport, which is currently the busiest airport in Vietnam.

The new airport is being built to relieve the increasing traffic, demand, and congestion at the existing airport, which could not be further expanded due to urban growth. The new airport will serve over 100 million passengers and five million tonnes of cargo annually when built to its maximum designed capacity, making it the largest airport in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. The project is being developed in four phases, with the first phase costing about US$4.6 billion and covering an area of around 5,580 ha (13,800 acres). It will include one terminal and one 4,000-metre-long and 60-metre-wide runway, with a capacity of 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tonnes of cargo per year. The remaining three phases are expected to be completed by 2035 at a cost of US$18.7 billion, providing another three terminal-runway sets covering an area of more than 10,000 ha (25,000 acres).

The master plan for the Long Thanh International Airport was initially approved by the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Phan Văn Khải, in 2006, and several adjustments have been made since. The project has faced some opposition due to its high cost and distance from the city centre. However, the government of Vietnam approved its construction in January 2021, and construction began the next day. The first phase was originally scheduled to be finished by September 2025 but has been delayed.

The airport will be accessible via the National Highway 51 and the Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway, with a third road planned to connect with the Dau Giay–Phan Thiet Expressway. A light rail line connecting the airport to Thủ Thiêm, just east of Ho Chi Minh City, is also proposed, with a planned length of 37.35 km (23.21 mi) and 20 stations. The line will include a section passing through the city and another through Đồng Nai Province. The Thủ Thiêm Station will serve as the starting station, and the Long Thanh International Airport Station will be the last stop.

Frequently asked questions

Salt Lake City in Utah got a new airport in 2020, known as the 'New SLC Airport'.

In November 2023, Siem Reap in Cambodia got a new airport.

Dominica started constructing its first international airport in late 2023, and it is set to be completed by 2026.

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