Icelandair has unveiled a series of AI-generated images showing how America’s major airports might transform over the next 25 years, with sustainable design and innovative transport solutions taking centre stage. Olivia Palamountain reports

Futuristic AI renderings from Icelandair suggest exciting shifts in airport design by 2050. Denver International Airport, currently the US’s largest at 33,531 acres, could replace its distinctive peaked Teflon-coated terminal roof with glass structures to maximise solar power generation.

The reimagining also features expanded terminals incorporating biophilic design principles with extensive green spaces.

According to the AI predictions, Orlando International Airport could introduce an artificial river system for inter-terminal transport, while Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport – currently the nation’s third busiest – may evolve into a towering structure with domed terminals and an expansive internal road network.

Gísli Brynjólfsson, marketing director at Icelandair, says: “Whether it’s tech innovation or simply the latest travel trends, the aviation industry is always looking to the future. We wanted to know more about how the sector might evolve, so we looked at the technologies that are currently in use in U.S. airports and how they might be used in the future.

While some of the images generated by AI might look a little far-fetched, they offer passengers an exciting glimpse into the future and what they might see from their window seat in 2050.”

The future vision for New York’s JFK Airport shows two glass dome terminals connected to the mainland via transport links, with the surrounding Jamaica Bay potentially accommodating water-based aircraft, suggesting a possible shift away from traditional runways.

Meanwhile, Detroit Metropolitan Airport, which currently spans 4,850 acres, is envisioned to more than double in size, featuring a network of lounge hubs and terminals arranged around a central control tower. The design emphasises steel construction with staggered floor levels extending beyond the terminal buildings.

The visualisations highlight a common thread of sustainable design elements, with glass structures and green spaces featuring prominently across all locations, pointing to potential priorities in future airport development.