Think about it, whether you want to work or study abroad, take a gap year to travel or follow the love of your life to the other side of the world, the likelihood is that these dreams and aspirations will literally take flight at an airport.

A hundred stories unfold in all corners of our airport every day and sometimes we catch ourselves saying, “Ah, this looks like a scene out of a film.” And since airports have provided the backdrop for so many dramatic and exciting moments on screen, we decided to look back at some of our favourite airport scenes.

(If you haven’t watched Casablanca, Home Alone, Love Actually, Catch Me if You Can, and The Terminal you might want to move to another blog post)

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1. Casablanca (1942)

Here’s a black and white one. Even if you’re no film buff, you’re probably familiar with Casablanca, the airport scene and the memorable “Here’s looking at you, kid”. The scene had all the right ingredients that eventually guaranteed its immortalisation; the hanging question of whether she will stay or board the waiting plane, the charismatic Humphrey Bogart, multiple Oscar winner Ingrid Bergman, and fog to add to the suspense!

2. Home Alone (1990)

Here’s one from our childhood. After sprinting through O’Hare International Airport to get to their gate, all members of the McAllister family cheer in unison when Mama McAllister asks whether they had missed their flight to Paris and the answer is “No, you have just made it!” At that moment, we join in the cheer from our own living rooms, for we too have had our share of barely-made-it-onboard experiences, until we realise that something seems to be amiss…

3. Love Actually (2003)

Another no has us booing from our living rooms this time, as it almost cuts short Samuel’s pursuit of the love of his life, Joanna. Although Love Actually features more than one airport scene, as well as actual footage shot at Heathrow airport, this one is our favourite because in it there’s Liam Neeson, Rowan Atkison misplacing a boarding pass at just the right moment, Bill Nighy’s seductive moves distracting airport staff, and a lot of determined running through Heathrow airport.

4. Catch me if you can (2002)

Frank Abganale Jr confidently marching down one of Miami International airport’s corridors (actually shot at Ontario International Airport) in his pilot uniform to Sinatra’s Come Fly With Me, accompanied by eight gorgeous airhostesses, embodies the glamour and excitement associated with working up in the clouds. And while he seems to be without a care in the world, we’re alternating between gripping our seat as we hope that he gets on that Pan Am flight and feeling a bit sorry for Hanratty.

5. The Terminal (2004)

It’s likely that you’ve slept in an airport, at least once, while waiting for a connecting flight, a cancelled flight to be re-scheduled, or your country to be recognised as a sovereign state once again. Wait, what? We got that last scenario from The Terminal, which is another favourite airport film of ours, considering that its practically all set in an airport. The film is partially inspired by the 18-year stay of Mehran Karimi Nasseri in Terminal 1 of Charles de Gaulle International Airport in France.