Eagle-Eye View Of World’s Most Stunning X-Shaped Airports, Internet Calls It ‘Premium Side Of Instagram’

Airports are always busy, with thousands of people travelling every day. Each airport has two main parts, the runway, where planes take off and land, and the terminal, where passengers check in, drop bags

and pass through security. The size of an airport decides how many terminals it has. Since travellers often spend hours inside, airport terminals are designed to look pleasant and comfortable.

The design, layout and facilities of a terminal play a big role in creating a good travel experience. Even though airports are mainly for travel, most governments aim to make them more welcoming instead of dull and tiring. Interestingly, airport terminals are built in many different shapes depending on space, passenger flow and flight operations. Each layout has its own purpose and logic. Let’s take a closer look at some of the common airport shapes and the reasons behind their unique designs.

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Linear Design Airport

The simplest airport layout is the linear design. In this type, like Munich Airport, the terminal is built in a long straight line, and all the plane gates are arranged on one side. This design is easy to build and operate, but passengers are required to walk long distances to reach their gates, especially if their flight is at the far end of the building.

Satellite Design Airport

The satellite design is another smart airport setup, used in places like London’s Gatwick Airport. In this layout, the main terminal is connected to one or more smaller buildings, called satellite terminals, through tunnels or corridors. These areas make it easier for planes to park and board passengers, but since they are separate from the main terminal, passengers might have to walk far to reach their gates.

Pier Design Airport

The pier design is the most common layout seen in airports such as Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (Terminal 1). It has a main terminal with a long arm or pier extending outward. The boarding gates are arranged on both sides of this arm, so planes can park nearby and passengers can move around easily in an organised way.

X Design Airport

The X design is an advanced version of the pier layout, where two or more arms cross each other in an X shape. This setup increases the number of gates and reduces congestion, as seen in airports like Beijing Daxing International Airport, which even expanded the design to five arms.

The central space is often used for shops and lounges. Interestingly, Mumbai Airport was originally planned to be X-shaped, but the structure had to be adjusted due to nearby unplanned constructions.