Travel service Wego has identified Singapore’s Changi Airport as the most Instagrammed airport in the world. (Photo courtesy of Changi Airport)
Travelers love to document their trips, so it’s no surprise that airports are among the most photographed places on Instagram.
It turns out the terminals with the most tags belong to Singapore’s Changi Airport, according to a study conducted by travel site Wego.
“We’ve seen an evolution in airports over recent years in terms of design, infrastructure and services, but combine that with more people traveling today than ever before, add a social media platform like Instagram, and you see which airports truly resonate with travelers,” said Dean Wicks, chief flights officer of Wego.
Top attractions at Changi include its digital art installations, rooftop sunflower gardens and annual festival celebrations for Christmas and Chinese New Year, as well as its Kinetic Rain installation, Wicks says.
Don’t expect Changi to lose its place anytime soon.
The Jewel is currently under construction at Changi, which will provide the airport with a gleaming new retail and lifestyle complex when it opens in 2018.
The glass and dome complex will feature a five-story waterfall, lush indoor garden and around 300 retail tenants—certainly enough options for the 66 million passengers that move through its terminals each year.
Other well-photographed airports on Wego’s list include:
Los Angeles International Airport
LAX is the world’s second-most Instagrammed airport behind Singapore’s Changi, according to Wego. That’s primarily due to the star power flowing through its terminals.
“The iconic LAX sign is a popular feature on Instagram, and it’s probable that the concentration of celebrities that pass through this airport contribute to the quantity of tags,” Wicks says. “Outside of an awards show, it’s possibly one of the most opportune locations for star spotting.
Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport
Changi may be impressive and its future looks bright, but it didn’t always top the list. Bangkok’s terminals were named the most Instagrammed location in the world in 2012.
“Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport is an Instagram star, in spite of the fact that the airport has no official Instagram channel of its own,” Wicks says. “Its most photographed area is the vaulted concourse, along with the intricately designed Buddhist Pagoda. The airport’s designers have successfully incorporated local Thai culture into the overall experience which travelers are clearly impressed with.”
London’s Heathrow Airport
One of the world’s busiest airports, Instagrammers frequently tag London’s Heathrow with photos of jets. But it’s also popular among foodies.
“There’s a trend for food images, particularly a good British breakfast, along with departure lounge drink and passport shots,” Wicks says.
Sydney International Airport
“Some of Sydney’s stunning skyline, warm sunrises, the ‘G’day, Welcome Home’ sign upon arrival, and a few of the spectacularly designed Qantas First Class Lounge are a feature,” Wicks says.
Qatar’s Hamad International Airport
A big yellow teddy bear is a big draw among passengers flowing through this hub in Doha.
“Love it or loathe it, Urs Fischer’s ‘Giant Teddy Bear’ dominates as a point of interest in the departure terminal, as does the giant moving walkway for transfer passengers between concourses A and E,” Wicks says.
New York City’s John F Kennedy Airport
The addition of pet relief areas beyond security checkpoints has made JFK popular among Instagrammers, especially if they can include their pooches.
“New Yorkers love to Instagram, and the Big Apple’s very own Shake Shack which has a particularly stylish airport outlet also features largely, as well as the New York subway connection,” Wicks says.
Tokyo’s Haneda Airport
The Japanese airport may not be Tokyo’s largest or busiest (that would be Narita) , but the curvy designs and striking architecture of Haneda’s Market Place has made it popular with travelers.
“The traditional Japanese-styled Edo-Koji shopping area in the International terminal and Japanese culinary delights in the departure lounge are also popular tags,” Wicks says.
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