Now you can get a breath of fresh air at airports — literally

One of my travel dreams came true recently.

I was in Laguardia, Terminal C, on my way to the gate headed to Florida, when I came across a “terrace.”

A kind of amphibious, indoor-outdoor space, it was enclosed with glass walls facing onto the runways, but a net ceiling that allowed in fresh air and real sunshine.

In other words, you could sit outside at the airport, past security.

For me, one of the biggest drags of travel has long been that feeling of being trapped inside on a beautiful day, waiting for a flight — delayed or on time — unable to catch a gulp of fresh air.

I get the security concerns, but couldn’t there be some “outside” once you’re inside?

Now, my wish was granted. In this terrace, there were lovely benches, with people sitting enjoying their time — one family having a snack, one fellow doing bench pushups, one couple enjoying each other’s company.

And we were all enjoying the fresh air.

My colleague Nathan set out to find out more about airport terraces.

So, how common are they?

Outdoor spaces, such as terraces and viewing decks, were once fairly common features at airports across the world.

With heightened security concerns post 9/11, many of these areas closed. Weary travelers were forced to while away the hours with little more than sterile shopping malls and extortionately priced cafés and bars to occupy them.

In recent years, however, many airports have been undergoing major renovations aimed at elevating customer experiences — and outdoor spaces have become all the rage once more.

Aside from the obvious aesthetic advantages, such areas are designed to address a growing issue in aviation: passenger stress.

It’s hard to blame anyone for feeling frazzled when flying. Cramped cabins, intimidating security procedures, and the nagging threat of delays and cancellations are enough to make even the hardiest of travelers fret.

But a little fresh air can often go a long way toward alleviating some of that anxiety.

“Human beings, by nature, respond very poorly to sterile environments,” Terence Young, a principal and design director at global architecture firm Gensler, told Business Insider. “We feel like we’re being driven. We have no sense of human agency. There’s no joy in the space.”

Gensler was early to embrace the alfresco trend, leading the design of JetBlue’s T5 Rooftop at New York’s JFK International Airport.

Opened in 2015, it was one of the first post-security outdoor areas available to all passengers in the United States.

The rooftop is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time and offers a green area, child-friendly and dog-friendly spaces, and views of the Manhattan skyline and the TWA Flight Center.

Gensler is also working on a 5,000-square-foot terrace at San Diego International Airport. Due to open in September, the space will offer flyers an outdoor restaurant and views across San Diego Bay.

Another firm looking to bring the outdoors closer to flyers is Corgan.

One of the Dallas-headquartered firm’s recent projects was the Delta Sky Club and Sky Deck at Salt Lake City International Airport.

The almost 30,000-square-foot space opened in 2020 and offers passengers an open-air patio where they can take in the Wasatch Range.

Alongside Lake Flato Architects, Corgan is also designing a new terminal at San Antonio International Airport, which will include a post-security outdoor patio with views across the airfield.

“The travel journey begins long before boarding a plane,” Ginger Gee DiFurio, an aviation design director at Corgan, said. “Features like natural light, fresh air, views, and greenery have become essential in reducing stress and providing a sense of calm within the often-hectic terminal environment.”

John Trupiano, a principal at Corgan, who is leading the new terminal project at San Antonio, added that he believed the growing trend also reflected a “broader cultural shift toward health and well-being.”

“There’s a growing emphasis on providing access to the outdoors as designers seek to balance the need for shelter with the benefits of a more nature-connected, health-conscious lifestyle,” he said.

At Pittsburgh International Airport, officials are also looking to take some of the stress out of flying.

The airport is undergoing a $1.7 billion new terminal program that will add four outdoor terraces, two pre-security and two post-security.

The project aims to harness a “biophilic” design to bring nature to passengers, allowing flyers to grab a breath of fresh air and shake off some excess energy before boarding.

“The stress of uncertainty can make people anxious,” Christina Cassotis, the CEO of Pittsburgh International Airport, told BI.

The key question is: “How do you create calm?” she added.

And it’s not just passengers who could benefit from such spaces, with designers also keeping airport employees in mind.

“Their ability to operate safely is 100% dependent on their frame of mind,” Young said.

Other airports to have added similar outdoor spaces include Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Monterey Regional Airport, Long Beach Airport, Denver International Airport, and San Francisco International Airport.

While many travelers will no doubt delight in the opportunity to step outside of the terminal, for others, the idea of airside outdoor spaces might conjure up even more security concerns.

But airports and designers are taking a number of precautions to minimize risks.

“Post-security outdoor spaces require careful planning to ensure compliance with safety and security regulations,” Trupiano said. “This includes physical barriers and screening processes to prevent the transfer of prohibited items from non-secure to secure areas, as well as design strategies to mitigate the risk of foreign object debris near aircraft operations.”

Aviation security expert Jeffrey Price told BI that “the most significant security measure” is often a plexiglass wall that extends around eight to 10 feet high.

He said these were also made “as seamless as possible” to make them difficult to climb over.

CCTV is also often in place to monitor such terraces, and security personnel may also patrol the areas or be stationed nearby, Price added.

“Everything starts with a safety and security filter. Everything,” Cassotis said.

What is next on our travel wish list?

Three things. First, planes that are impervious to weather — in other words, planes that could fly even in inclement conditions. Next, more of a subway-style system where you could simply arrive at the airport and buy a ticket for whatever flight you want, and just get on the next one. And finally, more (and functioning) power outlets.

One can always dream.

What’s on your travel wish list? Contact Nathan Rennolds at [email protected]

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