Our regular feature, brought to you in association with Duty Free Global from Ireland, celebrates memorable scenes, moments, launches and campaigns related to the global aviation and travel retail sphere.
INTERNATIONAL. Today’s images showcase the full line-up of Prix Versailles 2026 World’s Most Beautiful Airports, an accolade bestowed with ‘Laureate’ status to new airports and terminals that combine world-class architectural identity with forward-thinking design, commitment to sustainability and passenger-centric planning.
As revealed yesterday, two Indian airports, Navi Mumbai International and Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (Guwahati) were named among the competition’s 2026 Airport Laureates.
They are joined by Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Terminal 3, Frankfurt Airport Terminal 3, Techo International Airport (Phnom Penh, Cambodia), Pittsburgh International Airport and San Diego International Airport Terminal 1.
Opened in October 2025, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Terminal 3 pairs scale with elegance, featuring a light-filled departure hall, kapok petal-inspired check-in counters and a vast steel dome that defines the bustling terminal.
Far beyond a city ambition, the terminal aligns with national strategy and regional growth priorities, playing a key role in strengthening China’s transport network and advancing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area plan.
Since opening on 23 April, Frankfurt Airport Terminal 3 has established itself as one of Europe’s most advanced aviation hubs.
The terminal is Fraport’s largest infrastructure project, prioritising both passenger and employee well-being through abundant natural daylight and minimal artificial lighting. Its key features are a 6,000sq m marketplace with 30 stores, two 300sq m food courts, and a 250sq m bar.
Inaugurated on 20 October 2025, Techo International Airport is Cambodia’s largest aviation infrastructure project and one of the world’s largest airports by land area.
The terminal, designed by British firm Foster + Partners, blends Khmer-inspired aesthetics with modern sustainability, featuring bamboo-patterned domes that evoke traditional weaving.
At the heart of the terminal, a 9m-high Buddha statue in the Abhayamudra pose greets passengers with a signal of peace and protection.
Opened to the public on 18 November, Pittsburgh International Airport’s new multi-storey terminal modernises airport infrastructure with a consolidated layout designed to enhance operational efficiency and the passenger journey.
The airport has established itself as a leader in inclusive travel with initiatives such as Presley’s Place, one of the USA’s first sensory rooms for travellers with autism and sensory sensitivities. The TMP will build upon this legacy and create a more inclusive and welcoming environment, the airport said.
San Diego International Airport staged the Grand Opening of its new Terminal 1 in September 2025.
The terminal’s all-glass façade, designed by renowned artist James Carpenter, is comprised of 537 curved, fritted glass panels that allow light to illuminate the ticketing and baggage claim halls while reducing heat and glare on monitors and wayfinding screens.
T1 also showcases San Diego’s artistic and cultural identity, with five major commissioned public art pieces, many integrated into the terminal design.
As reported, Adani Airports welcomed the recognition of the Indian gateways, noting that they reflect the company’s focus on creating world-class infrastructure that balances design excellence, sustainability and operational performance.
Navi Mumbai International Airport Terminal 1 earned recognition for its lotus-inspired architecture and futuristic design language, integrating technology, art and functionality to reflect India’s ambitions as a modern global economy.
Located at the intersection of South and Southeast Asia, Guwahati Airport was awarded for its Terminal 2 design, inspired by the ‘Bamboo Orchid’ and shaped by a biophilic approach that reflects Northeast India’s biodiversity. ✈
