At the airport, there is one moment that is almost certainly experienced by every passenger, which is the long journey to the gate at the airport. This often raises questions in the minds of visitors, why do they have to walk so far just to reach the departure gate? It turns out, there are reasons underlying the spatial arrangement and design of the airport. From commercial factors to security, these are the reasons why airports have extensive land and passengers have to walk far to reach the gate. To find out more about other secrets, read the following article!

Alexander Thome, Director of Stantec design company in the United States, revealed that after the September 11th incident, additional security checkpoints were placed in existing terminals. This resulted in passengers having to travel longer distances. The airport has also increased the number of retail kiosks and concessions in terminals in response to airlines reducing in-flight food services. This step has encouraged the airport to provide more facilities in terminals that are not provided on the aircraft.

"The larger aircraft are also starting to be used to carry more passengers, as airlines no longer operate some smaller aircraft. There is a strong business reason for using larger aircraft, which encourages airlines to increase the size of their fleet," said Wilson Rayfield, executive vice president of aviation at Gresham Smith. "When you park 10 aircraft side by side with a distance of 75 feet, it naturally takes longer to walk," Wilson said.

The wide airport also poses a challenge for the crew and airport staff who strive to ensure that flights can take off on time. Some airports have installed electronic signs with the aim of providing estimated time needed for travelers to reach the gate or arrival time. The longest airport journey in the United States is in Dallas Fort Worth, with a distance from Terminal B entrance to Terminal E reaching 2.16 miles, according to a study by Kuru Footwear company. Fortunately, this airport is equipped with a train.

Some airports have recently opened new terminals without providing adequate pedestrian pathways, causing dissatisfaction among travelers. For example, last year Orlando International Airport launched a new terminal worth USD 2.8 billion, but it was not equipped with pedestrian pathways. Due to numerous passenger complaints, airport leaders are now considering installing such pathways through a voting process.