Airport makeovers: The changing face of international travel

Race Away with Lewis Hamilton

I don’t like Heathrow. Clearing immigration topped two and a half hours at one point last week, but there is hope. Ethiopia is thriving and offering a blueprint for the future of international travel. Yes, it’s true, frequent flyers may soon find themselves getting acquainted with the facilities at Addis Ababa’s Bole airport.

Ethiopia will this year begin its first Boeing Dreamliner flights: the 787 has a massive 14,200km range – roughly equivalent to a 20-hour non-stop flight – allowing direct flights to almost any city on the planet. In anticipation of a passenger boom, the once grim airport was remodelled last year: the runways were extended and a new automated baggage handling system was introduced. It can handle 11,500 suitcases per hour – as many as London Heathrow.

So what can we do to keep up? Well, why not build an airport in the estuary, with a high speed train link to the City? A similar project was completed in Hong Kong, and using the airport is a joy. Construction of Chek Lap Kok took eight years and has been a resounding success. As for the queues, the UK joining the European Schengen visa scheme would reduce waiting time for many thousands of people travelling within most of Europe. Ah, to be Prime Minister for the day…