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Airports connect millions of passengers to domestic and international destinations every day. The first airports opened in the early 1900s and ushered in a new era of global connectivity. While many airports continue to operate and grow, others have become ghostly relics. These airports lay abandoned due to several factors, from economic downturns to political turmoil, shifting travel trends, and poor planning. Still, some have been reimagined as inventive urban spaces. Discover tales of ambition and decline as you explore these seven abandoned airports worldwide.
Floyd Bennett Field – New York, New York
Inaugurated in 1931 on the shores of Jamaica Bay in Queens, Floyd Bennett Field was the first municipal airport in New York City. Named after a pioneering naval aviator, the airport became synonymous with record-breaking feats. In 1931, Russell N. Boardman and John Polando flew a then-record 5,011.8 miles from the airport to Istanbul without refueling. In 1933, Wiley Post landed here after completing the first solo round-the-world flight.
Nowadays, the airport is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area. The old administrative and passenger terminal building has been restored and serves as a reminder of the golden age of aviation. Among the 1,300 acres of grasslands, salt marshes, and tidal flats encompassing the airfield, popular activities include biking, boating, bird-watching, fishing, and snowshoeing in winter.
Ciudad Real Central Airport – Ciudad Real, Spain
The story of Ciudad Real Central Airport began during Spain’s construction boom in the early 2000s. The goal for the new airport, which opened in 2009 at the cost of over 1 billion euros, was to take some of the traffic load off Madrid Barajas International Airport. Situated in Spain’s La Mancha region, about 135 miles south of Madrid, Ciudad Real Central Airport was designed to initially handle around 2 million passengers, with the idea to expand to an annual capacity of 10 million.
However, in part because of its location far from the city center, just two airlines began flights at the new airport, and it closed in 2012 due to lack of demand and other economic pressures. Today, the derelict yet futuristic buildings look as if they’ve been lifted out of a scene from a postapocalyptic science fiction movie. Proposals have since been submitted to turn the 3,050-acre site and its 2.5-mile-long runway into an aeronautical maintenance site.
Croydon Airport – London, United Kingdom
From London Gatwick to London Heathrow, the United Kingdom is home to some of the world’s most iconic airports. The U.K.’s first international airport, though, was London Croydon Airport. Opened in 1920 in the South London town of Croydon, it went on to host several aviation milestones. Air traffic control was pioneered here, as was Britain’s national airline Imperial Airways (a precursor to British Airways). The airport also featured the world’s first purpose-built passenger terminal.
Croydon Airport was eventually replaced by its larger counterparts and closed in 1959, but today it is home to the Croydon Airport Visitor Centre. Guests can join a guided tour to visit the control tower and browse exhibits of aeronautical artifacts. Outside is a replica of the de Havilland DH.114 Heron propeller plane that flew the final passenger flight from the airport.
Hellinikon International Airport – Elliniko, Greece
Hellinikon International Airport, built in 1938, sits on a narrow strip of land between the Aegean Sea and the Hymettus mountain range. Initially a military airfield, it later became the principal international airport serving Athens. Hellinikon was abandoned and replaced by the larger Athens International Airport in 2001, though it was briefly revived for the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics.
The space around the airport has since been converted into the Ellinikon Experience Park, a sustainable urban park incorporating three former Air Force hangars. It features exercise stations, a Zen garden filled with Mediterranean flora, and an aviation-themed forest playground and splash park with choreographed jets for families.
Kai Tak International Airport – Hong Kong
The former Kai Tak International Airport is infamous among aviation enthusiasts. Surrounded on three sides by water and framed by the high-rise towers of Hong Kong’s Kowloon City, it was notorious for its technically demanding takeoffs and landings. Despite this, it was Hong Kong’s main flight hub from 1925 until 1998. Operations moved to the newly built Hong Kong International Airport on the island of Chek Lap Kok after Kai Tak outgrew its 24 million annual passenger capacity.
The airport site is now part of the Kai Tak Development. This ongoing project will eventually include a cruise terminal, parks, and commercial and residential properties. The old runway has already been reimagined as the Kai Tak Sky Garden. Stretching for almost a mile, the raised, landscaped deck is split into four zones themed around the seasons and has several public plazas with educational and entertainment spaces.
Pearls Airport – Grenada
Opened in 1943, Pearls Airport was the first commercial airport in Grenada. It sits on the northeastern side of the island, about 20 miles from the capital, St. George. Flights operated here until 1983, when the U.S. military invaded the island.
At the time, there were two planes grounded here — a Cuban aircraft and an aircraft gifted to the island from the Soviet Union. After operations were moved to a new airport in St. George, Pearls Airport and the aircraft were left abandoned. Nowadays, nature and grazing cows have taken over the runway and the planes have fallen into disrepair. Visitors can walk around the grounds and explore the planes inside and out.
Tempelhof Field – Berlin, Germany
The history of Berlin’s Tempelhof Field (Tempelhofer Feld in German) can be traced back to the 13th century, when the area was used by the Knights of Templar. In 1883, German aviator Otto Lilienthal conducted one of the first-ever aviation demonstrations at the site. With the construction of a passenger terminal, it became a full-fledged airport in the 1920s and was later integral to the Berlin Blockade of 1948 to 1949.
Flight operations ended in 2008 to make way for the construction of Berlin Brandenburg International Airport. The site was converted into one of Berlin’s most-loved public parks and recreation areas. Today, it’s a popular location for biking, skating, wind sports, boules, football, and other activities. There’s also an interpretive history trail, nature experience programs, an art gallery, and a community garden. In addition, theatrical performances, sporting competitions, and guided tours take place throughout the year.
