Today, with the increasing demand for airlines facilitating passenger and cargo transportation, cities and countries find themselves in the need to expand existing airports or construct new ones. However, the challenge lies in identifying and securing large, suitable areas for these projects. In certain cities, the limitation of available space hinders the expansion of existing airports or the construction of new ones. To address this issue, experts propose the concept of floating airports or sea airports, situated on seas and oceans. While the implementation of such projects demands specialized expertise and incurs a significant cost, some countries, like Japan, view this as a viable solution when conventional options are limited. Join Travel by Turkey to explore the fascinating world of floating airports.
- Osaka Kansai Floating Airport (Osaka-Kansai Airport) in Japan
Kansai Osaka Floating Airport in Japan stands out as one of the world’s most renowned floating airports. Japan, being a collection of small and large islands, faces the challenge of limited space for infrastructure development. In response to this constraint, the Japanese have ingeniously turned to constructing airports on water. Situated near the cities of Kyoto and Nara, Kansai Airport has grown to become the fifth busiest airport in Japan. The visionary idea of building this airport in the midst of the sea was proposed in 1980, leading to the construction of a floating structure on an artificial island crafted from 48,000 cement blocks. Remarkably, Osaka’s Kansai Floating Airport boasts robust infrastructure, designed to withstand the forces of sea storms and earthquakes.
These airports are floating on water!
Notably, Terminal No. 1 of this Japanese sea airport holds the distinction of being the world’s longest airport terminal, and its 4,000-meter runway ranks among the longest in Japan. Serving as the primary hub for All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, Kansai Airport has faced challenges, including sinking into the water more than initially predicted. However, recent measures have slowed down this process, ensuring the airport continues its operations unabated.
- Chubu Centrair Floating Airport (Chūbu-Centrair Airport) Japan
Chubu Centrair Floating Airport, situated in Nagoya, stands as another noteworthy floating airport in the world. Nagoya is the third-largest urban area in Japan and a vital hub for the country’s manufacturing sector, hosting the headquarters and production facilities of major companies like Toyota Motors and Mitsubishi Motors. Faced with the limitations of the old city airport, which couldn’t adequately serve the region’s needs and couldn’t be expanded on land, the idea of a floating airport took shape. Subsequently, the Chubu Centrair Floating Airport opened its doors in 2005 and has since become Japan’s second-most important airport after Kansai Airport. Built on an expansive artificial island spanning 470 hectares, Chubu Centrair Airport features a 3,500-meter-long concrete and asphalt runway. Drawing from the experience gained in constructing the Kansai airport, the engineering prowess applied to Chubu Centrair Floating Airport has resulted in a superior structure, free from the defects and problems encountered in its predecessor.
- Kyosho Floating Airports
Among the floating airports in Japan, Nagasaki Airport and Kitakyushu Airport on the island of Kyushu are noteworthy additions. Nagasaki Airport, classified as a second-class airport, is partially situated on land in the center of Omura Bay and serves as the replacement for Omura Airport.
Kitakyushu Airport, located three kilometers west of the city on an artificial island in the Seto Sea, stands out as another significant floating airport. Opened on March 16, 2006, it has become a hub for some international charter flights. Notably, Kitakyushu Airport operates 24 hours a day, providing passengers the flexibility to visit at any hour, day or night.
- Kobe Airport, Japan
Kobe Airport in Japan, another notable floating airport globally, commenced operations on February 16, 2006, emerging 12 years after the inauguration of Kansai Airport. Situated 8 kilometers south of Sannomiya station, this Japanese sea airport primarily caters to domestic flights and international charter flights. Notably, in its inaugural year, Kobe Airport saw a significant influx, with 2,697,000 passengers utilizing its services.
- Dalian Jinzhouwan International Airport
Located in Liaoning Province in the northeast of China, Dalian Jinzhouwan International Airport is set to replace Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport upon its opening. Spanning 21 square kilometers, this airport, scheduled to open in 2026, is poised to become the largest offshore airport in the world, according to Chinese officials.
- Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport, another prominent floating airport globally, commenced operations in 1998. Designed by the renowned architect Norman Foster, it held the distinction of being the world’s largest airport at the time of its inauguration. Situated 35 kilometers from the city, the airport is built on an artificial island in the China Sea, covering an expansive area of 1,255 hectares. Renowned for its comprehensive facilities, Hong Kong International Airport has been honored with the Best Airport Service Award from the International Union of Airports four times.
- Macau International Airport
Macao International Airport, situated on an artificial island in the administrative region of Macao, occupies the eastern part of Taipa Island and its surrounding waters. Opened in November 1995, this sea airport boasts a runway length of 3,420 meters. Historically, Macau Airport served as a vital hub for travelers from East Asia, Taiwan, and China. In 2006, the airport handled 5 million passengers, and by 2017, this number had increased to 7,165,803.
- Ordu Giresun Airport, Turkey
Ordu Giresun Airport in Turkey stands as another remarkable floating airport globally and holds the distinction of being the first maritime airport in Turkey. Drawing inspiration from the floating airports of Japan and Hong Kong, this innovative project involved concreting parts of the sea with 30 million tons of stone, upon which the airport was constructed. The concept for this airport first emerged in 1992, with construction beginning in 1994. However, due to high costs, the project faced delays. Ultimately, in 2011, the initiative resumed, and the airport was successfully completed in 2015.
- Rize-Artvin Airport, Türkiye
Rize Artvin Airport, the second floating or sea airport in Turkey, has recently been the subject of news articles in the country. Situated on the shores of Yeşilköy village in Rize province, the airport’s construction involved filling parts of the Black Sea to a depth of 30 meters with minerals, totaling more than 85 million tons. Covering an area of approximately 4,500 square meters, the airport features a 3,000-meter-long runway. Turkish Airlines inaugurated commercial flights from Rize Artvin Airport on May 14, 2022, and Pegasus Airlines also commenced operations at the airport on July 3, 2022.
- Sanya Hongtangwan International Airport, China
Sanya Hongtanguan International Airport in China is an upcoming floating airport designed to serve the city of Sanya in Hainan Province. The construction of this airport, situated on an artificial island in Hongtang Bay, commenced in 2017 with an initial completion target set for 2020. However, in the same year, the project faced suspension following a complaint from a Chinese environmental agency known as Friends of Nature. Additionally, in 2020, part of the construction of the artificial island was deemed illegal, leading to a halt in its expansion. Despite these challenges, there are plans to resume the construction of this airport once the issues are resolved.
Summary about the world’s floating airports
In this article, we’ve explored the concept of floating airports around the world. Typically constructed in areas where expanding existing airports or building new ones on land is not feasible, these innovative airports involve the creation of artificial islands near the coast. Runways, buildings, and airport terminals are then erected on these artificial islands. Presently, several countries, including Japan, Hong Kong, China, Macao, and Turkey, boast noteworthy examples of floating airports or sea airports, providing essential services to passengers in these regions.
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