A rendering showing part of a massive renovation planned for the former Berlin-Tegel Airport. The $7.9 billion project will include a residential smart city with approximately 5,000 homes, a university campus and an innovation hub for businesses. Construction is underway with completion scheduled for the end of the 2030s. It's far from the only airport to find a new use. <strong><em>Scroll through the gallery to learn more.</em></strong>
A rendering showing part of a massive renovation planned for the former Berlin-Tegel Airport. The $7.9 billion project will include a residential smart city with approximately 5,000 homes, a university campus and an innovation hub for businesses. Construction is underway with completion scheduled for the end of the 2030s. It's far from the only airport to find a new use. Scroll through the gallery to learn more.
Tegel Projekt GmbH/Atelier Loidl
<strong>Kai Tak International Airport, Hong Kong -- </strong>With a runway that protruded into the sea, Kai Tak International Airport in Hong Kong once had one of the most arresting approaches in the world. It was shuttered in 1998 when Chek Lap Kok took over as Hong Kong's main airport.
Kai Tak International Airport, Hong Kong -- With a runway that protruded into the sea, Kai Tak International Airport in Hong Kong once had one of the most arresting approaches in the world. It was shuttered in 1998 when Chek Lap Kok took over as Hong Kong's main airport.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Kai Tak International Airport, Hong Kong --</strong>The old airport swapped planes for ships, becoming Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in 2013. The runway was built over as part of an overhaul designed by Foster + Partners.
Kai Tak International Airport, Hong Kong --The old airport swapped planes for ships, becoming Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in 2013. The runway was built over as part of an overhaul designed by Foster + Partners.
Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Hellinikon</strong><strong> I</strong><strong>nternational Airport, Athens, Greece -- </strong>Hellinikon was once the only international airport in Athens, Greece, before <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcnn.com%2Ftravel%2Farticle%2Fgreece-abandoned-airport%2Findex.html" target="_blank">closing down in 2001</a>. Parts of the derelict site were spruced up and used as venues for the 2004 Summer Olympics, but the airport was soon neglected again and left in limbo as a result of the 2008 financial crisis.
Hellinikon International Airport, Athens, Greece -- Hellinikon was once the only international airport in Athens, Greece, before closing down in 2001. Parts of the derelict site were spruced up and used as venues for the 2004 Summer Olympics, but the airport was soon neglected again and left in limbo as a result of the 2008 financial crisis.
Milos Bicanski/Getty Images
<strong>Hellinikon International Airport, Athens, Greece -- </strong>A long-mooted, <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Fworld%2Feurope%2Flong-delayed-luxury-revamp-former-athens-airport-start-february-2021-11-09%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">reportedly €8 billion</a> ($7.9 billion) redevelopment of Hellinikon airport and surrounding area may soon be underway. The masterplan for <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheellinikon.com.gr%2Fen%2Fthe-project%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">The Ellinikon</a> was first proposed in 2013 and includes villas, luxury apartments, offices, hotel resorts and a giant sports complex, among other offerings. Developer LAMDA is looking to complete the first phase of construction in <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheellinikon.com.gr%2Fen%2Fthe-project%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">2025</a>.
Hellinikon International Airport, Athens, Greece -- A long-mooted, reportedly €8 billion ($7.9 billion) redevelopment of Hellinikon airport and surrounding area may soon be underway. The masterplan for The Ellinikon was first proposed in 2013 and includes villas, luxury apartments, offices, hotel resorts and a giant sports complex, among other offerings. Developer LAMDA is looking to complete the first phase of construction in 2025.
courtesy LAMDA Development
<strong>Stapleton International Airport, Denver, Colorado -- </strong>A photo of Stapleton International Airport from 1963. One of the major airports of the western US in the mid-20th century, it was replaced with Denver International Airport, 12 miles east, and closed in 1995.
Stapleton International Airport, Denver, Colorado -- A photo of Stapleton International Airport from 1963. One of the major airports of the western US in the mid-20th century, it was replaced with Denver International Airport, 12 miles east, and closed in 1995.
Denver Post via Getty Images
<strong>Stapleton International Airport, Denver, Colorado -- </strong>Today the site of the former airport is a thriving residential community called Central Park. But not every building was knocked down -- the former airport's air traffic control tower remains, and for a time was a <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Ftravel%2Farticle%2Fdenver-airport-tower-restaurant%2Findex.html" target="_blank">restaurant</a> decorated in homage to the golden age of aviation.
Stapleton International Airport, Denver, Colorado -- Today the site of the former airport is a thriving residential community called Central Park. But not every building was knocked down -- the former airport's air traffic control tower remains, and for a time was a restaurant decorated in homage to the golden age of aviation.
Ken Tillis/CNN
<strong>Galeville Army Airfield, New York -- </strong>An archive aerial photo of the former runways and taxiways of Galeville Army Airfield in Ulster County, New York. The airport was constructed during the 1940s on what was once swampy land. In <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fecos.fws.gov%2FServCat%2FDownloadFile%2F1477%3FReference%3D1500" target="_blank" target="_blank">1994</a>, the United States Military Academy at West Point closed the facility, and it later became a national wildlife refuge.
Galeville Army Airfield, New York -- An archive aerial photo of the former runways and taxiways of Galeville Army Airfield in Ulster County, New York. The airport was constructed during the 1940s on what was once swampy land. In 1994, the United States Military Academy at West Point closed the facility, and it later became a national wildlife refuge.
courtesy USFWS/Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge
<strong>Galeville Army Airfield, New York -- </strong>Today, species like the short-eared owl (pictured) thrive at the 597-acre park, now known as Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge. Hawks, harriers and the occasional coyote are among the animals that populate the grassland, according to the <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fws.gov%2Frefuge%2Fshawangunk-grasslands%2Fspecies" target="_blank" target="_blank">US Fish and Wildlife Service</a>.
Galeville Army Airfield, New York -- Today, species like the short-eared owl (pictured) thrive at the 597-acre park, now known as Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge. Hawks, harriers and the occasional coyote are among the animals that populate the grassland, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
courtesy Lisa Martine/Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge
<strong>Tempelhof Airport, Berlin, Germany -- </strong>Berlin Tempelhof Airport closed in 2008. A former Nazi airfield and the site of the Berlin airlift during the Cold War, Tempelhof's history meshed with the city for over 80 years.
Tempelhof Airport, Berlin, Germany -- Berlin Tempelhof Airport closed in 2008. A former Nazi airfield and the site of the Berlin airlift during the Cold War, Tempelhof's history meshed with the city for over 80 years.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
<strong>Tempelhof Airport, Berlin, Germany -- </strong>In 2010 the former afield reopened as <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.visitberlin.de%2Fen%2Ftempelhofer-feld-tempelhof-field" target="_blank" target="_blank">Templehof Field</a> park, a 386-hectare open space that incorporates remnants from the old airport.
Tempelhof Airport, Berlin, Germany -- In 2010 the former afield reopened as Templehof Field park, a 386-hectare open space that incorporates remnants from the old airport.
Maja Hitij/Getty Images
<strong>Old Mariscal Sucre International Airport, Quito, Ecuador -- </strong>In Quito, Ecuador, the Old Mariscal Sucre International Airport had one of the most treacherous approaches and take offs in the world. Nearby mountains and volcanoes, thin air and a short runway were all contributing factors to it being <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fworld%2F2013%2Ffeb%2F07%2Fvolcanos-ecuador-airport-quito" target="_blank" target="_blank">the site of numerous serious accidents</a> before it was closed in 2013.
Old Mariscal Sucre International Airport, Quito, Ecuador -- In Quito, Ecuador, the Old Mariscal Sucre International Airport had one of the most treacherous approaches and take offs in the world. Nearby mountains and volcanoes, thin air and a short runway were all contributing factors to it being the site of numerous serious accidents before it was closed in 2013.
Rodrigo Buendia/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Old Mariscal Sucre International Airport, Quito, Ecuador -- </strong>Quito replaced its main airport with another bearing the same name. The grounds of the old airport became the 125-hectare (309-acre) <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20150217043759%2Fhttp%3A%2Fwww.quito.com.ec%2Fque-hacer%2Fdeporte-y-parques%2Fparque-bicentenario" target="_blank" target="_blank">Parque Bicentenario</a> (Bicentennial Park), which opened in April 2013.
Old Mariscal Sucre International Airport, Quito, Ecuador -- Quito replaced its main airport with another bearing the same name. The grounds of the old airport became the 125-hectare (309-acre) Parque Bicentenario (Bicentennial Park), which opened in April 2013.
Rodrigo Buendia/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Downsview Airport, Toronto --</strong> Downsview Airport in north Toronto was once a Canadian Air Force base. In <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fdownsviewpark.ca%2Fnews%2Fdownsview-park-history" target="_blank" target="_blank">1999</a> it became part of Downsview Park, <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thestar.com%2Fnews%2Fgta%2F2014%2F04%2F23%2Ffeds_say_no_to_giving_downsview_park_to_toronto.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">reportedly the first urban national park in Canada</a>, which has hosted huge public concerts and other events. It has also attracted plenty of attention from residential developers.
Downsview Airport, Toronto -- Downsview Airport in north Toronto was once a Canadian Air Force base. In 1999 it became part of Downsview Park, reportedly the first urban national park in Canada, which has hosted huge public concerts and other events. It has also attracted plenty of attention from residential developers.
Gaertner/Alamy Stock Photo/
<strong>Downsview Airport, Toronto --</strong> A proposal has been made to transform 210 hectares (520 acres) of Downsview Airport into a residential district housing over 80,000 people with over one million square meters of office space. The masterplan, called the "<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.id8downsview.ca" target="_blank" target="_blank">Downsview Framework Plan</a>," has been designed around the former airport's two-kilometer (1.3-mile) runway, which would be pedestrianized and connect homes, business and retail spaces with parkland. Community consultation is still underway for the megaproject, which has a projected construction timeline running beyond 2050.
Downsview Airport, Toronto -- A proposal has been made to transform 210 hectares (520 acres) of Downsview Airport into a residential district housing over 80,000 people with over one million square meters of office space. The masterplan, called the "Downsview Framework Plan," has been designed around the former airport's two-kilometer (1.3-mile) runway, which would be pedestrianized and connect homes, business and retail spaces with parkland. Community consultation is still underway for the megaproject, which has a projected construction timeline running beyond 2050.
courtesy KPMB