Charan S.
Google
Probably the most disappointing airport I’ve experienced in what is otherwise a highly advanced country. Terminal 1 feels dated, and not in a charming way—it’s clearly old, and what stood out most was the lack of any visible effort to improve the overall passenger experience.
I was boarding from B6 and arrived around 9 p.m. for a 1 a.m. flight, only to find that all restaurants near the departure gates already closed. There are no convenience stores after immigration either, and I couldn’t find any souvenirs, which felt like a missed opportunity for an international airport. Charging facilities are another weak point—there are very, very few charging ports overall, and none at the gates, which makes long waits especially inconvenient. Resting areas near the counters are almost nonexistent, so you really have to time your arrival close to your check-in window.
The airport is large, but the architecture works against it. The walk from pre-immigration to the gates is long and exhausting, with no travelators—just an endless stretch of designer shops and limited practical options. This setup is particularly inconvenient for elderly passengers. One escalator I took landed directly at a trolley parking area, easily the most ridiculous escalator placement I’ve ever seen.
Another odd design choice is that each carrier number has its own counter rather than a single counter for the airline operator, adding to the confusion. While queues can get long, they do clear fairly quickly. The airport also felt severely understaffed, especially at security, where one staff member was handling luggage, X-ray screening, and empty trays. There were no display boards near the gates, relying instead on a “find my gate” scanning system that felt like unnecessary technology rather than a helpful solution. On a positive note, the toilets were clean.
In conclusion, for an international airport in a capital city, this airport falls well short of expectations. An early arrival and waiting at the airport is not recommended, and major upgrades are clearly needed to bring it up to the standards travelers would reasonably expect