16 Abandoned Airports Around the World and Their Eerie Histories
What fascinates us about abandoned places? Many people become spellbound when they witness objects in decay because these remnants carry strong nostalgic values. Abandoned airports have their unique intrigues. Once bustling hubs of human activity, innovation, and dreams of flight, these airfields now stand still in time, whispering stories of rising ambition, global conflicts, and crushing failures.
Abandoned airports aren’t just vestiges of the past; they’re snapshots of history. According to Sentinel Aviation, there are over 40,000 airports worldwide, but only 9,000 are served by commercial airlines. Countless others have been relegated to oblivion due to war, financial mismanagement, or technological advancements. Read on for 17 of the most intriguing abandoned airports worldwide, each with unique and often eerie history.
Berlin Tempelhof Airport, Germany
Tempelhof, located in the heart of Berlin, was once one of the largest buildings in the world and a pivotal European air hub during World War II. It gained fame during the Berlin Airlift (1948–1949), an Allied effort to supply West Berlin during the Soviet blockade.
Today, as emphasized on their official website, the airport serves as a recreational space, housing events, and even a refugee camp. Visitors can cycle the massive runways or explore tours outlining the airport’s wartime history.
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (Boneyard), Tucson, USA
Unlike traditional airports bustling with departures and arrivals, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is home to the largest “aircraft graveyard” in the world. CNN reports the Boneyard houses thousands of retired military and commercial aircraft neatly lined up in the desert’s dry climate, which helps preserve them. This one-of-a-kind facility serves as a storage, recycling, and repurposing hub for aircraft components, ensuring they live on in some form.
While Davis-Monthan remains an active Air Force base, the Boneyard has become a magnet for aviation enthusiasts and historians eager to explore and document America’s aerial legacy. Tours of the site offer a fascinating look at decades of aviation history, from World War II bombers to modern jets.
Croydon Airport, UK
Croydon Airport is the UK’s first international airport and the site of the world’s first air traffic control tower. Its history includes Charles Lindbergh landing here after his first solo transatlantic flight in the 1930s.
Today, its Art Deco terminal is a museum celebrating its aviation legacy.
Floyd Bennett Field, New York City, USA
Opened in 1931, Floyd Bennett Field was New York City’s first municipal airport and played a significant role in early aviation history. Throughout the early 20th century, it was a hub for record-breaking flights and aviation pioneers.
Although it ceased operations as an airport in 1971, it found new life as part of the Gateway National Recreation Area. Today, visitors can enjoy unique activities like camping, hiking, birdwatching, and exploring the remnants of its aviation past—all within the bustling limits of New York City. It’s a fascinating blend of history and recreation.
Yasser Arafat International Airport (Gaza), Palestine
Yasser Arafat International Airport emerged in 1998 after worldwide financial support, which brought modern airport facilities to Gaza while sparking optimism about new possibilities for its residents. The terminal building’s contemporary design combined with advanced facilities enabled the airport to receive worldwide visitors.
Tragically, in just three years, it was destroyed by Israeli airstrikes during rising tensions, as reported by AlJazeera, leaving behind a ghostly ruin. Today, the site is nothing more than a dumping ground, a stark reminder of the region’s challenges and the fragility of hope amidst ongoing conflict.
Johnston Atoll Airport, Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean atoll hosted this essential airfield that served as both an operational base for the U.S. military and a storage location for chemical weapons throughout the mid-20th century. The site shut down after environmental agencies identified fuel pollution dangers and toxic chemical deposits as significant problems in 2004.
According to the Defense Technical Information Center, today, the Atoll is uninhabited and designated as a wildlife refuge, and the airfield is slowly being reclaimed by nature.
Ellinikon International Airport (Athens), Greece
Once the gateway for millions of travelers visiting Greece, Ellinikon International Airport served Athens until 2001, when Athens Eleftherios Venizelos Airport replaced it. The sprawling site, now stripped of its original purpose, has been the focus of ambitious redevelopment plans, including proposals for a metropolitan park and residential areas.
However, bureaucracy and delays have left much of the space in limbo, with its abandoned terminals standing as relics of Greece’s aviation past.
Oranienburg Airfield, Germany
Built by the Nazis near Berlin, Oranienburg Airfield was intended to be an essential hub for the Luftwaffe during World War II. Despite its strategic planning, the airfield was never fully utilized due to shifting wartime priorities and the eventual collapse of Nazi Germany.
The site exists in a desolate condition primarily for its purpose as an important historical monument that displays the destructive elements of warfare alongside ambitious wartime plans. Some portions of the site developed overgrown vegetation that now integrates with the natural environment.
Kandara Airfield, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Kandara Airfield near Jeddah was once a modest but functional airstrip serving the region. Over the decades, its operations ceased, and the site was gradually abandoned.
Today, the long-neglected tarmacs and runways have been overtaken by desert sands, with the airfield left as a ghostly relic of Saudi Arabia’s early aviation history. Its echoes of the past remain scattered amidst the barren landscape.
Berteaux Airfield, France
During World War II, Berteaux Airfield functioned as an integral military aircraft base but has been left uninhabited since the end of the war. During the past decades, vegetation has naturally taken possession of empty runways and buildings at this site, which has developed into a surreal, picturesque setting despite its wartime function.
The airfield remains a haunting reminder of aviation’s role in history. Its decaying structures testify to the passage of time and the fleeting nature of military innovations.
Sergey Prokofiev International Airport (Donetsk), Ukraine
Named after the famous composer Sergey Prokofiev, this once-modern airport in Donetsk was a key transportation hub in eastern Ukraine. It was completely rebuilt and reopened in 2012, featuring state-of-the-art facilities and designs, but it was destroyed during intense fighting in the Ukrainian conflict in 2014.
The terminal and surrounding areas are now in ruins, ravaged by war, and overgrown with vegetation. The site serves as a haunting reminder of the devastating impact of conflict, with rebuilding efforts uncertain due to ongoing political instability in the region. It stands as a testament to human resilience and war’s tragic consequences.
Juhu Aerodrome, Mumbai, India
Juhu Aerodrome is Mumbai’s first airport, operating before Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport took over as the city’s primary hub. Initially built in 1928, it was once a bustling airfield that handled domestic and international flights.
While it continues to serve as a base for small aircraft, private charters, and flying schools, the aerodrome is now overshadowed by the city’s rapid expansion, with much of its history fading into the background of Mumbai’s urban sprawl.
Kallang Airport, Singapore
Singapore’s first international airport, Kallang, opened in 1937 and was celebrated as a modern aviation marvel at the time. Its distinctive circular terminal and spacious airfield catered to some of the earliest commercial flights in Southeast Asia.
However, rapid advancements in aviation and Changi Airport’s increasing capacity led to Kallang’s decline. Efforts have been made to preserve the site as a heritage landmark, and discussions have been held about repurposing the location for cultural or recreational use.
Ciudad Real Central Airport (Don Quijote), Spain
Ciudad Real Central Airport, often nicknamed an “airport to nowhere,” opened in 2009 with grand ambitions of becoming a major international hub for central Spain. Unfortunately, poor planning, high construction costs, and financial instability led to its closure three years later in 2012.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the airport briefly regained utility as a storage facility for grounded aircraft, but it has since returned to abandonment. Its empty terminals and unused runways are now a symbol of overambition and failed infrastructure projects, making it a case study in economic mismanagement.
Nicosia International Airport, Cyprus
Once a bustling gateway for international travel, Nicosia International Airport has been abandoned since 1974 following the conflict between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. The airport remains untouched within the United Nations buffer zone, with decaying structures and overgrown runways serving as a haunting reminder of Cyprus’s division.
Once a symbol of connection, the eerily silent terminal now stands as a poignant monument to the island’s political struggles, frozen in time yet rich with stories of the past.
Kai Tak International Airport, Hong Kong
Kai Tak was renowned for its breathtakingly dramatic landings. On the final approach, pilots had to navigate through Hong Kong’s densely packed skyscrapers and looming mountains. This challenging maneuver made it one of the scariest yet most iconic airports in aviation history, capturing the imagination of travelers and aviation enthusiasts alike.
Closed in 1998, the airport site has since been transformed into the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, serving as a gateway for luxury liners. However, remnants of its aviation legacy, such as old taxiways, still linger, offering a nostalgic glimpse into its storied past. Today, it remains a symbol of Hong Kong’s rich aviation heritage.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
