Airports Archives ⋆ The Passenger

February 12, 2025February 28, 2025

Santamaría

The Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Santamaría (SJO), located near Alajuela, serves as Costa Ricas primary international gateway. Originally named Aeropuerto Internacional el Coco after its location, construction began in 1952 and the airport was officially inaugurated in 1958. It replaced the previous airport in downtown San José, where Parque La Sabana is now situated. By the way: the former airport buildings now host the Museo de Arte Costarricarense, a museum well worth visiting.

February 2, 2025February 27, 2025

La Aurora

La Aurora International Airport (GUA) serves as the primary gateway to Ciudad de Guatemala, located just 6.4 kilometers south of the city center. This modern facility underwent significant expansion and renovation, completed in 2008, allowing it to accommodate more flights and larger aircraft. The airport features two terminals and for those looking to explore the city and the wonderful country, numerous car rental options are available directly at the airport.

February 1, 2025February 28, 2025

George Bush Intercontinental

The airport of Houston (IAH), originally named Houston Intercontinental Airport, opened its doors in June 1969 and has since become a major hub for international travel in Texas. Renamed in 1997 after the 41st President of the United States, the airport spans over 4,000 hectares and features five runways, making it Houston‘s largest airport and the #8 airport in the United States. It serves as a premier long-haul facility for the region, supporting 26 airlines that offer flights to 187 non-stop destinations. The airport has obviously aged over time but is working well and fast.

January 20, 2025January 20, 2025

Manchester Airport

Well, the airport of Manchester isn’t very modern and does deserve a makeover. But maybe the busiest airport of the United Kingdom outside of London also fits well to the worker bee city, to the former heart of the Industrial Revolution. MAN airport was opened in 1938 and formerly known as the Ringway Airport – it is located 15 kilometers south of the city, in the civil parish of Ringway. The airport has two runways and three terminals nicely linked using skylinks.

December 26, 2024December 30, 2024

Reina Sofía

North and south are concepts that are used in a flexible manor on Tenerife. The island was created by different volcanoes and is Y-shaped. Everything that is rather north of the central mountains is considered north, everything else as the south-side of the island. Driving distances are never really long, but it might be sensible to have an airport north and south of the Teide mountain. The one in the south is the Aeropuerto de Tenerife Sur Reina Sofía (TFS) located in the community of Granadilla de Abona.

November 11, 2024December 2, 2024

Marrakech-Ménara

The international airport of Marrakech (RAK) is located at the city quarter Ménara pretty close to the modern part of the city. It was opened 1942 as an airbase of the United States (like most airports at Morocco) and transports 2.5 million passengers each year with its one runway. That is just a third of the volume of the airport of the economic powerhouse, Casablanca. The modern airport building is connected via busses to the city, but because of the short distance also fixed-price taxis are a very valid option.

November 1, 2024December 2, 2024

Nouasseur

Mohammed V International Airport, Casablanca

The international airport of Casablanca (CMN) is located 30 kilometers south of the city. It was built in 1943 during World War II by the United States (who used it until 1963) and has two runways. 7.6 million passengers use the Aéroport international de Mohammed V – Nouasseur Casablanca every year, making it one of the top 5 airports in Africa.

September 11, 2024September 21, 2024

Berlin-Brandenburg

After World War II and during the occupation of Germany the four allies had ‘their’ airports at Berlin: Schönefeld (SXF) was used by the Russians, Tegel (TXL) by the French, Gatow (GWW) by the British and Tempelhof (THF) was the US airbase. The German reunification then created the need to change airport infrastructure at the German capital city. A decision was made to extend the Schönefeld airport to become the new Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg (BER) and to name it after former German chancellor Willy Brandt.

September 11, 2024September 21, 2024

City airport

When it comes to airports at and near London, there a multiple options. Luton (LTN), Gatwick (LGW) and Stansted (STN) are further outside and often used by low-price airlines and vacation flights. Most business trips are probably carried out via Heathrow (LHR) which is the biggest hub, but there is also a good option closer to the city center: the City Airport (LCY). It is located east of Canary Wharf and North Greenwich close to river Thames and directly next a marina; that’s why there is water close to the runway.

August 9, 2024January 18, 2025

Toulouse-Blagnac

Arriving at Toulouse is a relaxed thing because of the Toulouse-Blagnac airport (TLS) located just eight kilometers afar from the city center in the northeast of the city. It is a small airport that is easy and fast to pass – but it also has a long aviation history; for example the first flight of a Concorde started at Toulouse and the airport is also the homebase of manufacturer Airbus. Blagnac has been opened in 1939 and it has two runways transporting seven million passengers each year and by that making it the sixed busiest airport in France.