My first impression of the towns and cities I saw on my first day out of Korea’s Incheon airport was how rapidly the place transformed into something I didn’t know. One road, packed and known and headed to Seoul, the other headed into New Songdo, strangely futuristic yet surprisingly calm. I had read about the concept of airport cities in several online latest Global travel articles, but in person, Songdo seemed a much more real proposition.
A city surrounding an airport
Songdo is considered one of the first cities to be built around an airport rather than a traditional downtown. Prior to arriving, I envisioned a wealth of highways and hustling terminals. Instead, I found wide cycling paths, clean streets, glass towers, and city parks throughout the city.
The scene was very tidy but not crowded. People rode bicycles to work, families gathered around the canals in the evening, and cafés had a view of calm waterfronts. In spite of its cutting-edge technology, the city had the feel of a place we could live in.
I was most impressed by the smooth running of things. Traffic light systems were automatically adjusted to ease congestion, underground waste systems were used to collect waste without trucks, and many buildings employed recycled water systems. It was evident that Songdo had been built for an ultra fast paced future that was global.
The Urban Center transformation of Airports.
The more I studied it, the more I knew that it was the airport – the hub of all things. Hotels and office buildings, shopping areas, and medical centers were all a result of proximity to Incheon International Airport.
Instead of just transiting through the airport in Songdo, passengers experience a whole other world. During extended layovers, they stop for business meetings, luxury shopping, or wellness treatments. The airport has become a part of the travel experience, instead of merely a transportation hub.
That was a complete change of my thoughts about modern travel. Airports are no longer places outside the cities. They are increasingly the catalyst for cities to grow in many other locations.
Aerotropolis are on the rise globally.
Songdo is the most futuristic one, but there are many others. While traveling and researching for international travel writing, I saw just how many countries are now investing in airport-based development.
Manchester, England, is developing an airport city for industrial zones to be turned into business centers. Vancouver’s airport region is seeking to become a gateway for companies coming from Asia to North America. The cities of Denver, Dallas, and Atlanta are among those in the United States that are creating commercial areas around their airports to lure in international investors.
While they all vary in specifics, the common theme is that businesses and travelers appreciate convenience, speed, and connectivity.
Memphis: An Alternative Airport City
The one place I found to be the most surprising was Memphis. Memphis is not a planned city like Songdo, but rather it has developed naturally as an aerotropolis in terms of cargo and logistics.
As a passenger of the FedEx SuperHub, you’ll learn about the flow of trade on a completely different level. Millions of packages, medical supplies, electronics and products pass through the city each day.
That speed is vital for businesses in and around the airport. Medical firms send urgent surgical kits overnight, and repair shops send electronics to customers within hours. All things are done at exact times.
What appealed to me most was the fact that tourism was also a part of this system. Elvis Presley’s iconic “Graceland” estate draws tourists from all over the world, resulting in an unmatched blend of culture, logistics and international travel.
Since I have personally visited these airport cities, I know what an aerotropolis is and how it has become a prominent feature of the latest online Global travel articles. They are the most different pattern of urban development ever created – one driven by mobility, connections, and constant global interaction.
Airport cities, whether people like them or not, are quietly transforming the way we travel, work and live in the modern world. Now, in certain cities such as Songdo and Memphis, the airport is no longer the starting point for a trip. It is the city itself in many aspects.
For a deeper exploration of this journey, read the full Travel article: