No more boring layovers at the airport – movie theaters are the new global trend

▲ Taoyuan Airport also has a small cinema (Photo / Reporter You t
ru)

Written by Rita

The perfect combination of airports and cinemas should have been implemented everywhere long ago. But the trend seems to have only just started gaining traction.According to CNN, Portland International Airport will build a new cinema, designed in a retro style, set to open this summer, featuring works by local filmmakers. Many are optimistic that art and culture-focused films will bring even more buzz to the airport.

However, back in 2014, St. Paul International Airport in Minnesota was already the first airport in the United States to feature a cinema. Like Portland, it showcases films by top local filmmakers and operates 24/7.

The U.S. clearly lags far behind Asia in this area. Singapore’s Changi Airport introduced a 24-hour cinema many years ago, screening first-run movies that passengers can watch for free; Hong Kong International Airport is home to the world’s first IMAX cinema; and in 2013, New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport launched a 6D cinema with moving seats and special effects.

Taoyuan Airport is also keeping up with the trend – the first terminal’s central lounge features a movie screening area where films are shown irregularly, along with free massage chairs and recliners, providing a very comfortable environment for travelers to pass the time during long layovers.