Airports in Asia

Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) (pronounced su-wan-na-poom), or Bangkok International, is located in Racha Thewa, Thailand, approximately 16 miles (26km) east of downtown Bangkok. It is the country’s busiest airport, and the third busiest in Asia, with almost 43 million passengers in 2010.

Suvarnabhumi Airport, meaning “Golden Land” in Sanskrit, features the tallest control tower in the world and the world’s largest single-building passenger terminal. Travellers can expect everything that most international airports offer - an extensive array of shopping and dining, facilities and services. Constructed almost entirely of glass, the interior of the terminal is well lit and airy. Moreover, numerous traditional artworks and fabrics draped from the walls and ceilings are a wonderful introduction to Thai culture.

Suvarnabhumi International Airport is clean, modern and well maintained and, like all Thai citizens, staff are exceptionally friendly and helpful. Expect nothing less than a world-class experience when visiting Thailand’s primary aerial gateway.      

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is one of the world’s largest and busiest airports, which is to be expected in the world’s most populous country. The airport was revamped and upgraded for the Olympic Games in 2008 and now it is the second-busiest international air-hub, after Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International.

Beijing Airport has three terminals all of which have a wide selection of shopping, food and beverage options to keep even the most difficult traveller entertained during stopovers or while waiting to board.

China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines and Air China all use Beijing Capital International Airport as a hub. There are direct flights to Beijing Capital International Airport from almost all the airports in China as well as many Asian, European, African and North and South American airports.

Passengers using Beijing’s airport are certain to notice the beauty of the airport. As with many Chinese constructions the art of Feng Shui is employed to give the building, and the business it houses, good luck and positive energy. The red colour of the roof in terminal three is the Chinese colour of good luck.

Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) is Israel’s busiest airport. Situated nine miles (15km) from the cosmopolitan and friendly city of Tel Aviv, the Ben Gurion airport is the perfect gateway to exploring the ancient history of the region or relaxing on Tel Aviv’s fantastic beaches. 

Two of the four bright and sunny terminals of Ben Gurion International Airport are used regularly. Terminal 1 handles mainly domestic traffic and Terminal 3 handles international flights, filled with holidaymakers eager to enjoy the endless sun, friendly Israelis, scenery and religious sights.

El Al, Israir and Arkia Airlines all use Ben Gurion as a hub, but there are also many other European and North American airlines that offer flights to Ben Gurion International Airport.

Security is paramount at Ben Gurion. Passengers can go through as many as five different security checks before reaching the check-in counter. Interestingly, most passengers report that the security procedures at Ben Gurion are far more pleasant and much smoother than those at airports across Europe and North America. The Israeli response to this compliment is “it’s all in the eyes”. So, when traversing the layers of security, be prepared for lots of eye contact.

Ben Gurion International Airport is centrally located and close to one of Israel’s most popular cities, making it the perfect gateway into a country rich with history and holiday possibilities.

Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) is the 11th-busiest airport in the world and is located within five flying hours of half the world’s population. More than 50 million passengers travel through Hong Kong International each year.

It is one of the main aerial gateways to China. It’s known for its efficiency and cleanliness, factors that have seen it ranked as one of the top airports in the world (World Airport Awards).

The facility provides an easy and often enjoyable experience; its staff members are friendly, helpful and the service runs like a well-oiled machine. There are two terminals and two runways that keep the airport bustling.

With a host of things to see and do onsite, Hong Kong Airport is a pleasure to spend time in. Art galleries, exhibitions, activities and even a nine-hole golf course offer something to keep everyone happy for the duration of their stay.

Situated in Changning District, approximately eight miles (13km) west of Shanghai is Hongqiao International Airport (SHA). The facility serves as one of the main transit hubs for China and more than 90 airlines make use the airport’s facilities.

The airport is divided into two terminals: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The latter was opened in early 2010 and is four times the size of the original terminal. The new terminal houses 90 per cent of the carriers and Terminal 1 is now used for international flight and by Spring Air, the low-cost airline.

Since the completion of the Shanghai Pudong Airport on the other side of the city, the Shanghai Hongqiao Airport has been used mainly for domestic flights. However, Hongqiao Airport is closer to the city and has excellent connections to nearby hotels.

Incheon International Airport (ICN) is the main gateway to South Korea, the land of mega-cities and mountains. Located 43 miles (69km) west of the capital, Seoul, Incheon Airport is built on reclaimed land between some of the smaller islets along South Korea’s west coast.

The designers of Incheon International Airport made sure that the airport would have ample space, allowing for a wealth of shopping opportunities as well as numerous other activities. Passengers arriving on flights to Incheon International Airport can shop until they drop or they can take in some Korean culture at the airport’s on-site Museum of Korean Culture. There’s also a spa, golf course and casino.

Opened in 2001, the airport is fast making its mark on travel within the region. It is a hub for Korean Air and Asiana Airlines and flights to Incheon International Airport can be booked on a number of carriers from cities such as Moscow, Kuala Lumpur, Delhi, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok and Dubai to Amsterdam and San Francisco.

It is easy to see why Seoul’s Incheon International Airport is an award-winning one. The facilities and shopping opportunities alone are enough to keep even the most active passenger busy. The airport is easy to navigate and it is well-connected with Seoul as well as most other South Korean cities.

Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) is just 10 miles (16km) outside of New Delhi. The airport opened the dazzling new Terminal 3, which handles all international flights, in 2010, but there are also a number of other terminals still in use at the airport. Passengers who used the airport prior to the opening of Terminal 3 might remember a dank and dirty affair with little to offer travellers, but all this changed when the airport was privatized and revamped.

New Delhi’s airport is well connected to cities across the world and serviced by a large number of international and national carriers. There are also quite a few low-cost carriers in residence and it's a hub for ten Indian carriers including Jet Airways, Kingfisher and Air India.

Indira Gandhi International Airport is a natural gateway to northern India. As one of the largest and busiest airports on the Indian subcontinent, it's a great introduction to a country full of delights, adventures and surprises.

Airport staff are friendly and always willing to assist passengers or dispense the best bargain-hunting advice for the markets of New Delhi. It has loads of facilities and shopping opportunities, and its clean interior offers an ordered, calm introduction or conclusion to a trip to New Delhi. However, if you do have to spend a lot of time at the airport, make sure you spend it in the modern Terminal 3.

Located on the eastern coast of Pudong, approximately 19 miles (30 km) east of central Shanghai, Shanghai Pudong International (PVG) is one of Asia’s main aerial hubs. In 2010 it handled 40.6 million passengers, making it the third busiest airport in China and the 20th busiest in the world. 

Shanghai Pudong consists of two passenger terminals, flanked on either side by three parallel runways, with the Maglev Railway Station located at the centre of the complex. Inside the terminals, you’ll find a fair variety of services and facilities, in addition to a number of upmarket retail and duty free stores.

A range of renovations are planned: by 2015 a third passenger terminal, satellite terminal, and two more runways will be built, the result of which will increase the airport’s handling capacity from 60 to 80 million passengers per year.

Like most major international hubs, Shanghai Pudong can get chaotic during peak hours. Not all staff are bilingual; however, they are generally friendly and helpful. Overall, the airport is clean, efficient and reasonably modern.