7 Airports Around The World That Are Now Abandoned (& Why)

The world is dwelling to outstanding and engaging locations that intrigue vacationers — charming the essence of globe-trotting, unraveling the mysteries, and experiencing distinctive cultures to get a superb understanding of the previous. In fact, airports play a vital position in touring. Not solely do they function a terminal for plane, however it’s additionally the place vacationers take shelter.

A number of the greatest airports on the planet are the place vacationers like to have layovers due to their wonderful facilities. Others, although, are the worst. Sadly, some fascinating airports on the planet have closed down attributable to security.

These deserted airports are brimming with attention-grabbing tales — from those near struggle zones to those that had been transformed into completely different stations. Really, these deserted airports piqued many vacationers’ pursuits, however are they accessible for go to? Let’s discover out.

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7 Johnston Atoll Airport

Deserted in 2005

Positioned in Johnston Atoll, an unincorporated group within the US, Johnston Atoll Airport was a World Warfare II hub. It was an plane refueling cease for American bombers and a refueling base for submarines. Within the Nineteen Forties, it was one of many busiest air transport terminals within the Pacific and had additionally served two airways commercially, though passengers weren’t allowed to depart their planes by closely armed troopers on the atoll.

Johnston Atoll Airport sits southwest of Hawaii, known for its scenic but underrated destinations. Following the well being ministry’s suggestions in regards to the airport’s cargo and storage plans for the motion of chemical munitions, the Secretary of Protection, in 1970, suspended all non-essential plane flights and missile firings.

As of 2005, the airport was fully shut down, with its runway unmaintained however nonetheless used as an emergency touchdown.

6 Nicosia Worldwide Airport

Deserted on July 20, 1974

Having been utilized by American bombers, Nicosia Worldwide Airport was one other strategic hub in the course of the Second World Warfare. It was initially constructed within the Thirties for Royal Air Power Nicosia. The airport opened to business flights after World Warfare II and have become the principle hub on the island of Cyprus, which boasts the most beautiful places to visit within the Mediterranean.

However what was as soon as a bustling heart of Cyprus’s financial hub is now an abandoned airport with solely the sound of whistling air, perched on a hill on the outskirts of Nicosia. The Turkish invaded Cyprus in 1974 and closely bombed Nicosia Worldwide Airport in response to the coup d’état. There had been plans to reopen the airport after the invasion, however nothing was executed.

5 Pearls Airport, Grenada

Deserted on October 25, 1983

On the northeast coast of Grenada, a Caribbean paradise, sits Pearls Airport, the primary airport within the nation, which is now frozen in time, with solely grazing cows and goats witnessing the deserted airport’s coos. Pearls Airport was the primary airport in Grenada, though it wasn’t working every day.

It additionally turned a World Warfare II hub however finally went again to business operation after the struggle, that includes an prolonged runway. Nevertheless, in 1983, america Marine Corps captured Pearls Airport within the face of the Folks’s Revolutionary Authorities.

The airport turned the bottom for the Marines throughout this era. At the moment, revolutionary plane, the AN-26 and AN-2R, may be seen on the deserted airport’s terminal.

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4 Croydon Airport

Deserted onSeptember 30, 1959

Croydon Airport opened in 1920 and was the UK’s solely worldwide airport in the course of the interwar interval of World Warfare I and World II. It was additionally the primary on the planet to make use of air visitors management and performed a vital position in World Warfare II as a fighter airfield in the course of the Battle of Britain.

Positioned in London, the bustling British capital, Croydon Airport went again to civil aviation after the Second World Warfare, however at the moment, its place as the first airport was handed on to Heathrow Airport. The airport was formally closed in 1959 because it may not accommodate a bigger footfall attributable to difficulties with additional growth within the space.

At the moment, the airport’s location has been developed as a lodge, a residential property, sports activities fields, and parkland.

3 Berlin Tempelhof Airport

Deserted on October 30, 2008

Berlin Tempelhof Airport was an iconic pre-World Warfare II airport and a Nazi army base. That includes a large canopy-style roof that extends to the ramp, which catered to passengers and airliners on the time, Nazi structure can be one of many distinctive options of the airport.

Nevertheless it was closed down in 2008 amid the controversial “consensus decision” to combine Berlin and Brandenburg’s air visitors into one airport, which is the Berlin-Schönefeld Worldwide Airport. Authorities stated that it was for long-term environmental, financial, and authorized causes.

Regardless of efforts to maintain the Berlin Tempelhof Airport open, it failed. The airport’s location is now the most important public park in Berlin, Germany’s vibrant capital. The park is known as Tempelhofer Feld, which hosts massive occasions, festivals, and different leisure actions.

2 Kai Tak Airport

Deserted on July 6, 1998

Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon served Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong throughout its increase time within the mid-1900s. However as a result of Kai Tak Airport sits in one of many busiest residential areas within the famous Kowloon Walled City, the airport has change into a harmful hub for the residents and even for pilots to maneuver plane, contemplating the realm’s geography.

Take-offs and landings became complicated for pilots, who thought of Kai Tak Airport one of the vital harmful airports on the planet. The airport was ensconced by water on most sides, with towering, rugged mountains and residence buildings within the residential space.

Pilots would then fly over a harbor and residence buildings (at a low altitude), which have seen a number of accidents. Many years years later, Kai Tak Airport was shut down and is now a cruise ship terminal.

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1 Ellinikon Worldwide Airport

Deserted on March 28, 2001

Ellinikon Worldwide Airport sits within the coastal group of Elliniko, close to the Saronic Gulf coast in Athens, Greece’s ancient city. Initially named Kalamaki Airfield, the airport was inbuilt 1938 and likewise turned the bottom of the Nazis in the course of the Second World Warfare.

After the struggle, the airport was renamed Hassani Airport and was utilized by the bottom operations of the US Military Air Power for 4 a long time underneath an settlement with the Greek authorities. The airport’s difficult geography additionally made it one of the vital harmful airports on the planet, and the Greek authorities determined to not renew its settlement with the USAF.

It was renamed after the city of Elliniko and obtained 11 million footfalls yearly. In 2001, it was officially closed. The airport turned a venue for the 2004 Olympic Summer time Video games and has since been underneath building for the proposed Hellenikon Metropolitan Park.