Air travel has changed a lot since the Wright brothers soared in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in 1903. Nowadays, flying means cramped legroom and a small pack of pretzels, but in the 1950s and '60s, it was quite the treat. Passengers could enjoy fancy meals, piano bars, stylish flight attendants, and plenty of space to relax and chat. Curious about what it was like to fly during the golden age of air travel in America? Let's look back with these vintage photos from 7 famous U.S. airports!
Love aviation history? Which of these iconic airports should you visit?
John F. Kennedy International Airport – NYC, New York
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No airport terminal is as linked to the start of the jet age as the TWA Flight Center at JFK in New York. Designed by the famous Finnish American architect Eero Saarinen, this iconic terminal showcased an adventurous vision for the future of air travel when it opened in 1962. With its stunning sloping roof that stretches into 2 wings, the terminal included advanced tech for its time like jetways and baggage carousels.
After TWA, the terminal's main airline, went bankrupt and merged with American Airlines in 2001, the building remained vacant for almost 20 years. In 2019, it transformed into the retro-styled TWA Hotel, giving guests a trip back to the 1960s.
LaGuardia Airport – NYC, New York
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About 10 miles north of the TWA Flight Center, you'll spot another important piece of aviation history: the Marine Air Terminal at LaGuardia Airport. Built in 1940 by Pan American Airways, it was designed for its flying boats making transatlantic trips. This beautiful art deco building has a circular lobby, where travelers once checked in for international flights under James Brooks' 1940 mural "Flight," showing the story of humanity's quest for the skies.
Today, the terminal, now known as Terminal A, is still actively used by low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines. Although the boarding areas are located in a newer section, visitors can still explore the original lobby to appreciate the building's rich history.
Los Angeles International Airport – Los Angeles, California
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Standing tall in the middle of LAX's horseshoe-shaped terminal area, the Theme Building is a cool nod to the space age. Built in 1961, it has a UFO-like shape held up by 2 tall 135-foot arches. This Googie-style building opened when LAX expanded for the jet age. It used to have a glass-walled restaurant and an observation deck on top, but both are now closed, and the building's future is up in the air. For travelers at LAX today, it still symbolizes a past era.
Washington Dulles International Airport – Dulles, Virginia
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Another Eero Saarinen creation, the main terminal at Washington Dulles opened in 1962 with a dedication by President John F. Kennedy. It still welcomes millions of travelers every year. The iconic building shows off tall windows and a roof that beautifully curves upward, suggesting the feeling of flying.
The terminal launched with several new ideas like separate levels for arrivals, departures, and parking. It also introduced mobile lounges, which were large bus-like vehicles that took travelers from the main terminal to their gates. Although these lounges weren't copied at other airports, they add a unique charm to the Dulles experience.
San Francisco International Airport – San Francisco, California
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Jet bridges were a cool new idea that came from the golden age of flying. Instead of walking on the runway and climbing stairs to get on a plane, these bridges made boarding faster and protected passengers from the weather. San Francisco International Airport was one of the first to use this tech in 1959, but the jet bridges back then looked quite different from the ones we see now.
Back then, planes usually taxied up next to the terminal, parking parallel to it, and they had 2 short jetways that linked to the front and back doors of the plane. As flying became more popular, jetways were changed so planes parked sideways to the terminal, which needed longer walkways connected to a movable jetway at the end. This setup made better use of terminal space.
St. Louis Lambert International Airport – St. Louis, Missouri
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St. Louis Lambert International Airport is named after Albert Bond Lambert. He learned to fly with the Wright brothers and served in World War I. The airport has a rich history, as Charles Lindbergh flew an airmail route from this airfield in the 1920s before his famous solo transatlantic flight.
In 1956, the striking arched main terminal, designed by Minoru Yamasaki, opened its doors. This design set the standard for future terminals across the United States like those at New York's JFK Airport. Lambert was also among the first to have jet service when TWA brought the Boeing 707 here in 1959.
Greater Pittsburgh Airport – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Pittsburgh is a city with a rich aviation history. When the Greater Pittsburgh Airport opened in 1952, its terminal was huge, second in size only to New York's Idlewild Airport, now known as JFK. In 1953, over 1.4 million passengers used the terminal. The old terminal closed in 1992 and was torn down in 1997.
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