Completed in 1975, Zurich Airport's Pier B featured an excellent observation deck. It is pictured here ca. 1982. Between 2008 and 2011, Pier B was completely rebuilt. Thankfully, its replacement also boasts an observation deck over its entire length.
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF AIRPORT OBSERVATION DECKS
Even though flying has become a very common phenomenon, people of all ages still love to come to the airport to watch aircraft and enjoy the airport atmosphere. There was a time when most major airports offered an outdoor viewing terrace or observation deck. From the 1970s onward, most of them were closed due to security concerns or to make way for terminal expansion. There's a few notable exceptions left. Even though it is a fraction of its former size, Amsterdam Schiphol's "Panorama Terrace" is still a fantastic venue. Many airports in Germany and Japan also offer excellent viewing facilities. In this blog post we take you back to ten super cool airport viewing terraces and decks, some of which are still around today! Don't forget you can click on the images to expand.
1. Zurich Dübendorf & Kloten Airport
The viewing terrace of Zurich Dübendorf Airfield in 1946. Dübendorf functioned as Zurich's main airport between 1919 and 1948.
Zurich Kloten Airport's viewing terrace sometime during the 1960s.
2. Los Angeles International Airport
The Theme Building was the symbol of LAX's new Jet-Age terminal complex. Opened in 1961, it featured a restaurant and an observation deck with sweeping, unobstructed views of the airport and its surroundings. At present, the Theme Building is closed for the public.
3. Frankfurt Airport
The outdoor restaurant at Frankfurt Airport, sometime during the 1950s.
Opened in 1972, Frankfurt's Terminal 1 had an absolutely fantastic observation deck on top of the two star-shaped concourses (Flugsteig B), offering great views of all the action.
The deck was closed in 2006 in order built a new floor on top of the existing structure. There's still is a viewing terrace on top of nearby Terminal 2, but the views are inferior to those offered by T1. Read more about Frankfurt's Terminal Mitte here.
4. Nairobi Embakasi Airport
The observation deck at Nairobi's Embakasi Airport, now Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, sometime during the late 1960s.
In 1978, passenger traffic was moved to a new new complex on the far side of the airport. No new viewing facilities were provided.
5. Hong Kong Kai Tak Airport
Hong Kong's Kai Tak's 1962 passenger terminal featured an excellent observation deck. The deck closed in the early 1970s due to terminal expansion.
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6. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
Amsterdam Schiphol has a long tradition of catering to visitors, as is evident in this 1950s image.
Schiphol's new passenger terminal, opened in 1967, photographed from the platform tower. In the early days, Schiphol's "Panorama Terrace" stretched out onto Pier D (then Pier B).
Visitors watching 1970s ramp action. I hope these people realized how good they had it!
Another great 1970s view of the Panorama Terrace. The section on top of Pier D was closed in the late 1970s, arguably for security reasons.
And yet another nostalgic shot of the Panorama Terrace at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in the late 1970s. Over the years, large sections of the terrace were closed. This particular stretch is no longer accessible, but at least the terrace is still there.
See more vintage images of Schiphol here or read about the airport's notorious runway in the middle of nowhere here.
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7. London Heathrow Airport
The viewing terrace on top of the Queen's Building at Heathrow in 1957.
Spectators admire a BEA Vickers 806 Viscount on a beautiful summer day in 1969.
The terrace closed in the 1970s due to the threat of terrorist attacks by the IRA. Read about Heathrow's original development plan here.
8. Miami International Airport
The observation deck of Miami International Airport, photographed in the early 1960s. In the early 1970s this section was closed to make way for an automated people mover system, connecting the terminal with the new international satellite at the end of the pier.
Luckily, the new satellite building boasted a viewing deck as well. However, it closed in the late 1980s.
9. Düsseldorf International Airport
The observation deck on top of Düsseldorf International Airport's Pier B. In 1996, a fire destroyed part of the terminal, and major rebuild followed. The observation deck was maintained but has been closed since the Covid pandemic.
Read more about Düsseldorf's proposed super airport here.
10. Melbourne Tullamarine Airport
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport's passenger terminal (1970) also featured an excellent observation deck overlooking the international concourse. The deck was closed in the early 2000s.
Interestingly, in November 2005 it was reopened for a few days for the promotional visit of the Airbus A380 prototype.
Bonus: Berlin Tegel Airport
Berlin Tegel Airport's 1974 passenger terminal featured an excellent observation deck along its entire length. It remained open until Tegel's closure in 2020.
We want to close with a call to airports around the world:
In a time when there is a growing resistance to aviation, we think it makes sense to take good care of the people that still support you (and gain a few more enthusiasts in the process!). Thus, bring back those terraces and aircraft spotter locations! Airports like AMS, FRA, and many others prove it can be done so safely and securely. In addition, most people are happy to pay a few bucks for entering such facilities and they will likely buy food and drink at the airport as well. Thus, also from a financial point of view it makes sense! Which airport observation deck is or was your favorite? Tell us in the comments below!
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7 Comments
Tim
19/5/2022 15:42:22
I have fond memories of time spent on the Heathrow Queens Building Viewing Terrace. It stayed open until around 2002 but only a smaller area above Terminal 2 remained.
Mike Rush
5/6/2022 14:43:20
Denver stapleton Int'l airport had a good one into the 70's. both inside with bleacher type seats and open air on top of the concourses
Matt Wingfield
5/6/2022 16:19:04
Raleigh-Durham International (KRDU) has a park/overlook that faces runway 05L/23R. Has a small playground for kids and it has speakers that pipes in Air Traffic Control transmissions 4/8/2022 03:30:49
Thank you for this informative article that you shared with us. I hope there’s a lot of deck builders could read this and be guided accordingly.
Dean Bourque
26/8/2022 15:34:53
The old terminal at Newport News/Williamsburg International (PHF) had a terrace type observation deck off the glass enclosed portion. I remember going to watch the planes come and go, they closed it for security concerns. 19/6/2023 09:43:36
Venezuela had some cool observation decks too. The one at Maiquetía's international terminal was actually very nice. Maracaibo also had one, though not much. traffic there.
ElPlagiato
27/7/2024 18:09:50
There is another German Airport with a still active Obs deck: Helmut Schmidt Airport in Hamburg. It's not the biggest with the best views but it's free. Usually not many visitors because it's a little hidden and not well signed. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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Marnix (Max) Groot Founder of AirportHistory.org. Max is an airport development expert and historian. |
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