Despite chatty seatmates and de-icing delays, air travel never truly loses its glamour—especially if you’re in one designed by a world-renowned architect. From the TWA Hotel at Eero Saarinen’s John F. Kennedy Airport to Zaha Hadid’s Beijing Daxing International Airport, we scouted the most impressive airports around the globe that should be on your radar—and the ones under construction that are sure to be spectacular.

Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport

Massimiliano Fuksas—is inspired by nature, taking inspiration from the manta ray. Inside, white “trees” double as air conditioning." layout="wide" credit="Photo by Massimiliano Fuksas" photoUserId="6133527181872836608"/>

Heydar Aliyev International Airport

TWA Hotel at John F. Kennedy International Airport

reminiscent of 2001: A Space Odyssey, is the heart of the TWA Hotel. The plush, red carpet is the same you'll find in the long, minimalist tunnel entry, where indirect light illuminates the curved wall, which results in no shadows." layout="wide" credit="David Mitchell" photoUserId=""/>

Beijing Daxing International Airport

Berlin Tempelhof Airport

Sprawling across 32 million square feet, Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport is one of the world’s most eclectic public spaces. Home to the famed Berlin Airlift from 1948 to 1949, this enormous, monumental airfield ceased operation in 2008, and reopened its doors when residents rallied together to transform the abandoned site into a public park for all to enjoy. Now, Tempelhof’s main hall is the departure point for a new kind of voyage. But people still run the wrong way up the people movers when no one is looking." layout="wide" credit="Add credit" photoUserId=""/>

On the Boards

In design development or under construction, following are a few more first-class flight centers we eagerly await.

Midfield Terminal, Abu Dhabi International Airport

Amsterdam Airport Schipol

O’Hare International Airport Expansion

Helsinki Airport

Related Reading:

The TWA Hotel Turns an Abandoned Airport Terminal Into a Midcentury Dream

Journey by Design: Berlin's Tempelhof Airport Is a Public Park Like No Other