WITH countries around the world reporting record tourist levels, its no wonder so many are announcing huge expansion plans.
And when it comes to airports, there are a number of multi-billion plans to build some of the world’s biggest.
Currently, the world’s largest airport is King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia, when it comes to land area.
And when it comes to the world’s busiest airport, that accolade goes to Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the US.
Other airports that are already open have revealed expansion plans to become some of the largest too.
Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport – which opened in 2010 – is undergoing an expansion that will see it welcome a whopping 260million passengers a year.
But in the mean time, here are three other new airports trying to take the crown of being the biggest in the world.
King Salman International Airport, Saudi Arabia
King Salman International Airport will be will be built around the existing King Khalid International Airport.
The $30billion (£22.5billion) is being designed by Foster + Partners, a UK firm which is behind London‘s famous Gherkin.
It will be the size of 14,000 football fields – or twice the size of the city of Bath.
The airport aims to welcome as many as 120million passengers by 2030.
This will then jump to 185million by 2050.
Until the announcement of the Dubai airport expansion, King Salman International Airport was set to be the world’s biggest airport.
Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Vietnam
The new airport in Vietnam will be near the city of Ho Chi Minh.
It will replace the current Tan Son Nhat International Airport, which has a maximum capacity of 30million passengers.
The new VND336 trillion (£9.5billion) airport is set to open its first project by 2026, with initial capacity of 25million passengers.
However, it will eventually welcome up to 100million passengers, with a fourth terminal and fourth runway by 2035.
New train lines will also connect the airport to Ho Chi Min city.
While airline are yet to be confirmed, local carries such as Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet will operate from the new airport.
Centralny Port Komunikacyjny Airport, Poland
Poland‘s Centralny Port Komunikacyjny Airport (CPK) is set to start worksnext year.
Costing £25billion, it wants to take on both Dubai and Heathrow when it comes to passenger numbers.
It hopes to be operational by 2032, and welcome 65million passenger by 2060.
Other huge new airports include Bishoftu International Airport in Ethiopia which will see 60million passengers a year.
Singapore’s Changi Airport has revealed £7billion expansion plans that would welcome up to 140million passengers by the 2030s.
And Bangkok’s new £4billion south terminal and fourth runway will see it welcome up to 150million passengers by 2033.