The observation deck used to be a feature of many airports around the world. You could go to the airport, have something to eat, then head up to the outdoor area to look over the planes.
Unfortunately lots of these have been closed over the years. The culprits have often just been development at the airport, while for others it was security risks that led to the closed sign going up.
Observation Deck Memories
When I was a kid, we would occasionally go out to the airport and visit the observation deck. Our family lived fairly close to the airport, which made it an easy trip. Of course, I was mad into planes, so I imagine I pestered my parents to go.
Overall Thoughts
A lot of people today have probably never been to the airport just to go look at the planes, which is a shame. It was always fun going to wander around and see which airlines were in that day and which aircraft were there. We were and are still spoiled a little bit in Australia though.
At the domestic terminals in places like Sydney, anyone can go through security to the departure lounge. You don’t need a ticket, which is great for looking at the planes at the gates. It’s also fun to walk off the plane and have your family right there to meet you. A rare thing in this world!
Have you ever visited an observation deck before? Any memories to share? Are there any airports you know that still have them? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Featured image by Raimond Spekking via Wikimedia Commons.
Concorde in colour via Pinterest.
Sydney observation deck via Sydney Morning Herald.
GVA has opened a new observation deck. It is marvelous you see the runway and parking of all planes ! However they have a timetable and they close in the winter months! As I am a true spotter I enjoy observation decks. The ZRH one is faboulous too !
Oh very nice! They must be wonderful during the summer 🙂 Thanks for letting me know. I really want to fly Swiss again, so now I’ll try that and to get an observation deck too.
In the 1990’s, Boston had an indoor viewing area in the control tower. It is now closed to the public.
Around that time, Gatwick and Schiphol had outdoor observation decks but I don’t know if they are open now. Minneapolis has an indoor one that is one floor higher than the gate area. SFO is supposed to have one. I think Singapore might have one.
Now that would have been pretty cool in Boston! I think a lot of airports used to have them as a matter of course. Singapore might as well – they certainly have outdoor areas on roofs like their Cactus Garden and bar. Good to know there are still some around, really.
Going back to the depths of the dinosaur age. Albany NY airport had an observation deck in 1964. I took the escalator to the roof of the then one concourse and at the top there was a gate similar to a subway turnstile where you put in the dime to open the door to the deck. Well worth the 10 cents.
That’s interesting that they charged a token amount for it. I remember it being free in Sydney at any rate. Thanks for that, very cool!
Tokyo Haneda has an excellent observation deck open 24/7. There are also drink vending machines and picnic tables available.
Awesome! I should be flying through Haneda next year so I might have to check it out. Thanks for the tip!
SFO has a “SkyTerrace” available pre-security with great views (it’s in roughly the same position as the control tower.
Oh that’s cool, I didn’t know that! Thanks for that!