Pan Am Worldport (from internet - in its glory days)
[from FB post: October 27, 2011]
First off... let's talk AIRPORTS. I was in JFK, San Diego, LAX, SeaTac, Detroit, and Newburgh (NY). JFK and LAX are basically Third World airports these days. At JFK Terminal 4 (Delta) the roof leaks so badly there are tarps all over the ceiling with hoses running down to a central collection point. I thought it was "modern art" until I overheard someone explaining what it was. At LAX... there is no practical way to get from terminal to terminal so you have to take shuttle buses that are poorly marked and staffed by people who are rude and don't care if you make your flight. Bravo to San Diego, SeaTac, Detroit, and Newburgh for being clean, modern, and up to date. So TWO of our largest cities major airports are in steep decline, yet "smaller cities" seem to have excellent airports. Detroit's airport (in spite of the decline of that city) is simply FANTASTIC!!!
In my travels and in living abroad one of my harshest criticisms has been that developing countries tend to build these massive infrastructure projects and then let them fall into such disrepair that they finally must be demolished. With only a little upkeep, their lifespans could have been radically extended. From my arrogant American point of view - "don't they realize that after building something maintenance is implied?" was on the tip of my tongue in places like Indonesia and India all-the-time. Hold on though - what about the USA? Unfortunately, upkeep of anything "new and fantastic" actually seems to be the exception rather than the rule worldwide. After many years of not too much travel in the USA, suddenly Brian and I were traveling through a myriad of airports across the country. What had happened?
The old PanAm Worldport, which was taken over by Delta in its last days, was the most dire airport terminal I had ever visited. How had such a grand structure come to that? Why was it not renovated? It was a representation of an historical period - I am sure like Penn Station [see: Penn Station], there will be those who later regret its destruction and the loss of architectural heritage. Later on the same trip we travelled through LAX and the sheer pandemonium and confusion in something as simple as changing terminals made Manila Airport (notoriously hard to navigate) seem like a piece of cake! The two principle gateway airports to "America" were not only bad, they were horrible. Both airports are, of course, updated in fits and starts, but not with any overall vision. It feels almost shameful. I can only wonder what someone who dreamed of coming to America thinks upon arriving at either airport? "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" - really, how could I EVER criticize any other country's lack of upkeep on a public structure with JFK and LAX confounding and underwhelming visitors on their arrival to the USA.
However, I also passed through some "second tier" airports on that same voyage and was blown away by their modernity. As I mentioned in the above post, Detroit's airport was a stand out in its amazingly futuristic design and ease of use. I wonder if all the airports on which I showered praises in that facebook post will run afoul of poor maintenance and in 30 years be only shadows of their former selves, slated for demolition? Or, are smaller cities more able to cope with maintenance because they don't have so many competing pressures on the annual budget?
What of the behemoth airports of Dubai, Doha, Hong Kong, and Kuala Lumpur? How will they stand the test of time and maintenance? They were built on a scale that makes both LAX and JFK look small. Do those governments even understand the long-term commitment to keeping up such massive structures? I watch with curiosity feeling happy that I used them all when they were new. ha!
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