11 U.S Airports That Shouldn’t Exist in Their Current Locations
The location of airports is essential, but their presence can negatively impact urban development, the environment, and public convenience. Some U.S. airports have been controversial choices because of their location, making travel ineffective and problematic for travelers and the local communities.
For example, everyone knows the world’s busiest airport is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which handles over 93 million passengers every year, nearly all of whom can share stories about how congested and noisy it can be — problems that plague the people who live nearby.
Moreover, airports contribute to a significant percentage of global carbon emissions (around 2.5%), and their placement is bound to raise environmental issues where they are poorly managed. The location of airports matters, from congestion and noise pollution to ecological concerns and optimal use of prime real estate—and some need to be reassessed.
There are 11 airports whose present locations leave much to be desired and where moving or rethinking everything might make sense.
LaGuardia Airport (LGA), New York
LaGuardia Airport has critical access and airspace problems. It is eight miles from Manhattan but has no direct subway connection and is generally noxious to passengers.
In addition, it is an active member of a complex, overcrowded East Coast airspace that is a severe bottleneck for East Coast flights. Connections between New York and nearby cities like Boston and Washington D.C. would help reduce congestion at LaGuardia by offering high-speed alternatives for short-haul travelers.
San Diego International Airport (SAN), California
SAN is only three miles from downtown San Diego, and its single runway operates within a constraint limit. The design possesses several inherent problems because proximity to the lively metropolis prevents expansion and generates excessive noise pollution for occupants.
What’s worse, the airport is located on valuable land that some would like to see developed for much-needed housing or commercial properties. The aircraft could be moved down to the Miramar airbase, which is not far away and has much more space for growth.
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Massachusetts
Boston residents are plagued by noise and environmental concerns in part because of Logan Airport. The airport’s proximity to the city’s central areas and the water around it make expansion almost impossible.
Logan’s move would pave the way for prime real estate redevelopment in an urban setting and produce a closer airport model. It would decrease reliance on the dense downtown area and improve transit connectivity to surrounding areas.
Miami International Airport (MIA), Florida
If MIA is viewed as an extensive hub for international flights, especially to Latin America, then the airport’s location positions it to suffer. Due to climate change, it now suffers flooding more often and damage due to rising sea levels.
Urban planners have also suggested building a new airport further inland to mitigate potential environmental risks and reduce the problems of noise and emissions affecting people around the airport.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Virginia
While named “Washington” Dulles, the airport is 26 miles away from the nation’s capital, making it notoriously inconvenient for travelers. Residents have no easy access to the airport, and it is a slow and costly road journey.
Rail connections would be enhanced through more localized infrastructure or from Portland and Washington, D.C., areas. If we wanted to get fancy, we could also build a more central hub that redefines what air travel would mean for the capital region.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), California
The second busiest airport in the U.S., LAX, is infamous for inefficiency. Its current design is ill-suited for the modern mega airport demands, and its current configuration, such as its terminal congestion, backed-up traffic on its surrounding access roads, and significant air quality problems, are automatically present.
Opening secondary airports around Greater Los Angeles or spreading loads across regional hubs such as Ontario International would ease congestion and pollution and represent a long-term solution to Southern California’s air travel needs.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Illinois
Long criticized for frequent delays and congestion, Chicago O’Hare has avoided the 185 delays in 2014 that most airports experienced. Although it is a significant domestic and international flight hub, its position and outdated facilities make it inefficient.
Adding capacity to nearby airports like Chicago Midway could improve regional connectivity (to lessen some of the burden felt by O’Hare) and help make O’Hare less chaotic.
Denver International Airport (DEN), Colorado
Improving public transit: I think high—speed rail might help solve connectivity issues. Further, the environmental strain could be reduced if more sustainability development initiatives were utilized in strategic integration around DEN.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Arizona
Heat issues in Arizona lead to many heat-related restrictions affecting Phoenix Sky Harbor operations. Although near downtown Phoenix, the airport occupies space that could better be used to expand the urban area.
Solar-powered cooling technologies and opportunities for terminal relocation could be adopted to future-proof this critical hub.
San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC), California
SJC is in the center of Silicon Valley, surrounded by some of the most pricey real estate in the country. However, its operations limit the needed urban development, including housing and tech-centric spaces for local innovation.
Relocating the airport to a less densely populated area and better reallocating finite urban resources might address congestion challenges.
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), New Jersey
Newark Liberty is routinely deemed one of the most passenger-unkind airports in the U.S., with its aged infrastructure and accessibility issues pale compared to those of its neighbors, such as JFK and LaGuardia.
Rebuilding Newark as a modern facility or spreading air traffic across the region’s other airports could significantly impact travel in the New York metropolitan area.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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