Many cities around the world are renovating, rebuilding or replacing their old air terminals with modern up to date facilities. The common goal in these upgrades is to improve the movement of travelers and save time, while maintaining tight security.
International Terminal B – Sacramento – Opened in 2011
A complete overhaul of all baggage handling, checking and pickup facilities was a big part of the 1 billion dollar expansion and renovation done by Fentress Architects. Solar shading designs were used to increase light and hold down both heating and cooling costs. Many ecologically interesting designs were used in the décor of the new air terminal. At the Sacramento International Airport over 140 smart-phone charging tables have been installed with two USB charging ports per table. The airport also has aps available for frequent travelers so that they may have special food orders delivered to their gate, before departure.
International Terminal – Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson – Opened in May 2012
The city of Atlanta had more than 92 million air travelers in 2011, ranking it the city with the busiest airport in the world. Fortunately Atlanta's Maynard Jackson Jr. Terminal, with its new terminal upgrades, now saves travelers as much as 45 minutes per visit. The new facilities help make security procedures, demands for Wi-Fi and baggage handling at check in faster and more efficient than ever. The time saved reverses the trend of recent years when travelers have been spending one hour more in air terminals than they did in previous decades. A special section for international travelers has 40 gates connected to the new F concourse with another 12 gates. Especially appreciated by travelers is the new system that makes bag checking and pickup between domestic and international flights faster and easier.
Richardson International Airport – Winnipeg, Canada – Opened in 2011
British royalty were the first official passengers to arrive at this new airport terminal. The Queen of England and the Duke of Edinburgh dedicated a time capsule, set for opening in 2060. The airport is Canada's first LEED certified facility for travelers. Open spaces and amazing views of the surrounding prairies and the Manitoba skyline constantly entrance travelers while waiting to depart. Amazingly, even passenger boarding areas are open view and open spaces. More than fifty large round skylights let in natural light to get the entire terminal an outdoor feel. These same lights glow indirect light at night.
Daniel Oduber International Airport – Liberia, Costa Rica – Opened in 2012
This new terminal now allows ecologically inclined travelers to access the famous beach at Tamarindo. The airport is cooled by special fans to keep everyone cool during check-in. Their name makes most passengers smile – Big Ass Fans. Near this airport are the Nicoya Peninsula and three Costa Rican National Parks. The Liberia airport has reduced traveler handling times because any airline can operate at any ticket space or gate location because of common use terminal equipment, which is a popular new technology used at many new air terminals worldwide.
McCarran International Airport, New Terminal 3 – Las Vegas – Opened in June 2012
In Las Vegas city planners even moved highways to get room for a much overdue improvement and expansion of the McCarran International Airport. The new 2 million plus square foot terminal kept the original Welcome to Las Vegas signs, in reproduction format, and added a new fifty foot Las Vegas showgirl painting. This might be an air terminal but the terminal also has a gaming saloon with 300 slot machines. The airport has Wi-Fi and automated airplane docking systems that allow pilots to dock their flights unaided. Travelers can print and apply their own baggage tags to help speed checking and baggage checking.
International Airport – Terminal 2 – Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina – Opened in 2011
The same renown architects that designed the amazing Denver International Airport and Incheon Korea facility planned the new look of Terminal 2 at Raleigh-Durham's airport. The design uses natural wood trusses with wood sculptures hung from the ceilings. The use of wood celebrates the history of wood industries in the area. The science and technology growth is acknowledged with carpet patterns showing DNA sequences, presented in the abstract. This terminal has unique ticketing areas that lower congestion to speed check-in, baggage acceptance and security checks.