Terminal

Flight is an anomaly of nature which, as a species, we have mastered. Why, then, do we experience the magic of air travel as such an enormous inconvenience? We drag massive bags through dark terminals, snaking our way through never-ending security lines, fighting our way through crowds, only to arrive at a gate with no seats and a three-hour delay. By 2030, New York City’s airspace, already the most congested in the United States, will become even more congested, increasing delays significantly. Additionally, travelers will increasingly arrive at the airport closer and closer to their departure times. Taking these factors into consideration, the goals of intro are many. Most importantly, the magic of air travel is in desperate need of revival. The experience of interacting with airplanes at airports today is more akin to watching animals at the zoo than that of walking onto the platform at London’s St. Pancras or Paris’s Gare du Nord, where one occupies the same space as the trains, experiencing the Eurostar and TGV trains, marvels of technology, at a more personal level. To bring this experience to air travel, the airplanes should be integral to the experience of the terminal, entering the space alongside their passengers. Additionally, and on a more practical level, the terminal should be easily accessible, it should be possible to arrive just before boarding and have time to drop your bags, grab a coffee, and walk directly onto your plane. To achieve this, the terminal should provide the typical amenities of an airport, but should also be a place travelers desire to be, rather than dread.