Due to climate woes, technical glitches and government-mandated schedule reductions that brought on important delays and cancellations, a whole lot of vacationers spent extra time than deliberate hanging round U.S. airports this 12 months.
Nevertheless, in a lot of these airports, vacationers had been additionally ready to take a look at brand-new terminals and a bevy of cool occasions and new facilities.
Listed here are a handful of one of the best we noticed across the nation in 2025.
Eye-catching canopies at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport (ATL)
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport (ATL) kicked off an 18-month celebration of its founding on New Yr’s Eve by turning the LED lighting on its huge 900-foot-long North and South canopies into countdown clocks for the brand new 12 months. On the stroke of midnight, they gentle as much as say “ATL 100.”
Created to offer passengers shelter from the weather, the canopies are an iconic design ingredient of the airport and, like the enduring Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) pylons, they glow with completely different lighting schemes all year long. They’re spectacular when considered from the air and adjoining roadways.
ATL’s present cover illumination coverage has 24 permitted lighting schemes that mark the whole lot from Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day to Independence Day and Christmas. This 12 months, at any time when the canopies are usually not lit for a special occasion, the default design has been “ATL 100.”
Elvis appearances at Harry Reid Worldwide Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas
When he was alive, Elvis Presley spent a whole lot of time in Las Vegas, due to a seven-year residency from 1969 to 1976 at what was then the Worldwide Lodge. He died Aug. 16, 1977, however “the king of rock ‘n’ roll” nonetheless has a robust Las Vegas presence.
On Jan. 8, 2025, on what would have been Elvis’ ninetieth birthday, Harry Reid Worldwide Airport (LAS) marked the event with a celebration that featured an Elvis impersonator and free cookies in a few of Elvis’ favourite flavors, together with peanut butter, banana and bacon.
And, as has been a convention since 2018, the Clark County Clerk’s Workplace as soon as once more arrange a pop-up marriage license bureau in LAS’ T1 baggage declare space this 12 months to present a head begin to vacationers heading to Las Vegas to get married round Valentine’s Day.
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Dinosaur sightings at Indianapolis Worldwide Airport (IND)
A handful of airports across the nation, together with Chicago’s O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD) and Salt Lake Metropolis Worldwide Airport (SLC), have large dinosaur fossil replicas of their terminals.
From March by Could 2025, Indianapolis Worldwide Airport (IND) additionally joined the record.
To impress vacationers and assist The Youngsters’s Museum of Indianapolis rejoice its a hundredth birthday, IND welcomed a 33-foot-long fossil forged of the museum’s famed Tyrannosaurus rex, dubbed “Bucky the T. rex,” into the presecurity gathering area generally known as Civic Plaza.
The true Bucky the T. rex is known as in honor of Bucky Derflinger, the rodeo cowboy and rancher who found the fossil in 1998.
A speakeasy — and a rap video — for Portland Worldwide Airport (PDX) in Oregon
Vacationers and locals alike love hanging out within the presecurity fundamental corridor at Portland Worldwide Airport (PDX). Opened in 2024, the area options stay timber and crops, skylights, a hovering 9-acre wood roof (the topic of a rap video created for the airport this 12 months), public lounge areas, selfie-friendly swatches of the famed PDX carpet design and outposts of native outlets, eating venues and bars.
This 12 months, the presecurity space at PDX acquired a cool, new characteristic: the nation’s first airport speakeasy. And, better of all, the venue is open to everybody; no airline or bank card standing or airline ticket is required.
Named after the Roman goddess of daybreak, the 49-seat Aurora speakeasy has a shiny artwork deco-inspired inside and home windows providing views of the airfield. Plus, it is a part of Loyal Legion, the presecurity beer corridor on the airport’s mezzanine degree.
Ask the bartender for the password, and search for the phrases “Curiosity opens the door” subsequent to the in any other case unmarked entrance.
The speakeasy is at the moment open Monday to Friday from 4 to eight p.m. and on Saturdays between 2 and eight p.m.
April Fools’ Day celebrations at airports throughout the nation
A number of airports across the nation did their half to rejoice April Fools’ Day this 12 months. Listed here are just a few of our favorites from 2025.
Minneapolis-St. Paul Worldwide Airport (MSP)
Minneapolis-St. Paul Worldwide Airport (MSP) is residence to Minnesota’s tallest escalator. So, as a nod to that enjoyable truth, on April Fools’ Day, the airport introduced the set up of the world’s shortest escalator, which was described as 3 inches shorter than the present document holder in Tokyo.
Ted Stevens Anchorage Worldwide Airport (ANC) in Alaska
Alaska’s Ted Stevens Anchorage Worldwide Airport (ANC) introduced its latest passenger-inclusive amenity on April Fools’ Day. The airport mentioned that as a part of its new “Passenger Runway Shoveling Program,” passengers would obtain snow shovels to help with clearing runways at any time when it snowed at ANC.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston
And, constructing on the success of its remedy canine program, Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) determined to go a lot larger this April Fools’ Day by including a remedy giraffe to the staff.
Enlargement of ticket-free entry choices at airports all through the US
Why ought to ticketed passengers get all of the enjoyable?
A rising variety of airports throughout the U.S. provide day or gate cross applications that permit nonticketed guests to cross by the safety checkpoint to buy, dine, view artwork reveals, hearken to stay music, watch planes come and go, and spend extra time with family members.
In 2024, we counted 14 U.S. airports providing this feature, together with Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA), Philadelphia Worldwide Airport (PHL) and Nashville Worldwide Airport (BNA).
As 2025 attracts to an in depth, we’re completely happy to report that the record has grown to 17 airports with the return of Tampa Worldwide Airport (TPA)’s TPA All Entry Move, the enlargement of San Diego Worldwide Airport (SAN)’s SAN Move to incorporate the brand new Terminal 1, and the November rollout of the ABQ FlySide Move at Albuquerque Worldwide Sunport (ABQ).
A brand new, swanky terminal with an outside patio — and funky sinks — at San Diego Worldwide Aiport (SAN)
In September, San Diego Worldwide Airport (SAN) opened its brand-new and much-needed $2.8 billion Terminal 1 proper subsequent to the outdated Terminal 1 constructing.
Constructed by the Gensler structure agency and contractor Turner-Flatiron, the constructing has a central safety checkpoint, line of sight from the doorway door to the airfield and spectacular art work outdoors, inside and on the constructing itself.
We respect Terminal 1’s eating corridor, which has a 350-seat out of doors terrace providing views of San Diego Bay and downtown. However we actually love the brand new terminal’s lavatory (most notably, the sinks). Every restroom sink has three fixtures: one is for cleaning soap, one is for water and one is a private hand dryer. Gone are the times of strolling round with moist arms in search of the paper towel dispenser or the wall-mounted hand dryer.
The debut of a brand new terminal at Pittsburgh Worldwide Airport (PIT)
On Nov. 18, simply in time for the vacation journey season, Pittsburgh Worldwide Airport (PIT) opened its new landside terminal.
A part of the airport’s $1.7 billion Terminal Modernization Program, the brand new terminal contains a streamlined baggage system, a skybridge to interchange the prepare journey between the landside and airside terminals, 4,000 twinkly LED lights within the hovering ceiling, 12 expanded and up to date safety lanes, 4 landscaped out of doors decks (not open simply but) and plenty of contemporary artwork all through the ability, most of it created by native artists.
The star of PIT’s artwork assortment is the 28-foot-long and equally large kinetic cell titled “Pittsburgh” by famed artist Alexander Calder.
The sculpture has been a part of the airport’s artwork assortment since 1959, however over time, it has been repainted a few times and put in areas the place it was troublesome to see or respect.
Within the new landside terminal, the cell hangs from the 80-foot-high ceiling within the giant, open presecurity atrium. Departing passengers and the general public can now see the sculpture from eye degree or above on the presecurity departure degree of the brand new terminal. On the arrivals degree, one ground beneath, folks can search for on the sculpture and stroll beneath it.
Birthday celebrations galore at airports across the nation
ATL wasn’t the one airport to mark a milestone this 12 months.
Denver Worldwide Airport (DEN)
On Feb. 28, Denver Worldwide Airport (DEN) celebrated the 1995 ribbon-cutting ceremony for the present facility, which got here “after seven years of building and one failed baggage system,” in line with a DEN timeline.
Baltimore/Washington Worldwide Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
As a part of its seventy fifth birthday celebration, Baltimore/Washington Worldwide Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) launched a Legacy Gallery within the A/B Meals Court docket crammed with photographs of the airport’s historical past.
Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport (PHX)
Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport (PHX) celebrated its ninetieth anniversary this 12 months, too. Its celebration included a photographic historic timeline, a dance occasion, a museum exhibition titled “From Farm To Airfield” in Terminal 4 and on-line, and a ninetieth anniversary collectible buying and selling card.
The arrival of Rocky Balboa at Philadelphia Worldwide Airport (PHL)
Along with internet hosting one other tasty Cheesesteak Week in March, on Nov. 21, Philadelphia Worldwide Airport (PHL) unveiled a Rocky Balboa statue in Terminal A-West between gates A-15 and A-16.
Honoring Rocky Balboa, the Philadelphia-based character portrayed by Sylvester Stallone in a sequence of “Rocky” franchise movies, PHL’s 10-foot-tall bronze statue is one in every of three created by sculptor A. Thomas Schomberg. The 2 different statues are outdoors the Philadelphia Artwork Museum.
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