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The World's 18 Strangest Airports

A survey of airports around the world turns up a mixed bag, ranging from dangerous and rugged landing strips to mega-size facilities that operate like small cities. Here, PM explores the world's most remarkable airports and why they stand out.

Previous Transportation Stories

Is Bigger Better? 'Monster' Trains vs Freight Trains In January, Union Pacific tested a 3.5-mile long "monster" train, using extra locomotives to distribute power efficiently. Just what are monster trains, and how are they different from conventional long-haul freight trains?
The Panama Canal Gets a New Lane (With Gallery!) With supersized ships plying the oceans, the undersized Panama Canal risked becoming a backwater. A massive upgrade will provide the canal with a new third lane to handle the world's biggest ships, ensuring that it remains a global crossroads. (Published in the February 2010 issue)
The World’s 18 Strangest Tunnels: Gallery Tunnels, whether bored through imposing mountains or laid hundreds of feet under water, are inspiring feats of engineering. Here, PM presents a collection of the world's most interesting and impressive tunnels.
Bike Commuter's Christmas: Gadget Gift Guide Every commuter has a complaint—from sweat-inducing courier bags to bikes that take up too much room. This holiday season, remedy these complaints with these, the year's top gadgets, clothing and bike accessories for the commuter in your home.
$8 Billion in High-Speed Rail Funds to Be Allocated—Soon Congress set aside $8 billion for high-speed rail as part of the $787 billion stimulus bill, but the money hasn't been spent yet—or even allocated. Today, U.S. transportation secretary Ray LaHood said that recipients of the funds will be announced in January.
The World's 18 Strangest Roadways: Gallery The most direct path between two points is a straight line, but roads are rarely straight. Engineers must calculate the most efficient routes over mountains, through cities and around water, all while accounting for the ecological and financial cost of such projects.
Airbus A380 Completes First Commercial Europe-U.S. Flight Air France on Friday became the first European airline to operate the double-decker Airbus A380 in commercial service, completing its inaugural transatlantic flight from Paris to New York.
Oasis of the Seas Cruises Home to Ft. Lauderdale: Gallery The 1,187-ft long Oasis of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, towers 213 feet above the water and carries four 7,500 horsepower bow thrusters. Here are pictures of the construction, test run and maiden voyage of the Oasis.
The World’s 18 Strangest Bridges: Gallery Some bridges are engineered with nothing but utility in mind—for these, aesthetic design is secondary to safety and longevity. But advances in design software and construction materials have given bridge architects opportunities to focus on designs that impress, while keeping function in mind.
Bay Bridge Closed After Repair Falls Apart Three pieces of an emergency repair to the Bay Bridge made over Labor Day weekend snapped and crashed onto the upper deck of the span late Tuesday afternoon, striking three vehicles and forcing the indefinite closure of the region's busiest bridge.
View Full Technology: Transportation Archive

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