Airport’s Sacred Spaces
Since the inception of the first U.S. airport chapel, Our Lady of the Airways at Boston’s Logan International Airport in 1951, numerous terminals nationwide have incorporated spaces for prayer, worship, and meditation. Today, this public chapel accommodates 250 individuals, offering daily masses and round-the-clock services for travelers, airport staff, and airline employees.
Meanwhile, Our Lady of the Skies Chapel at JFK, founded in 1955, stands as the nation’s second-oldest chapel, providing daily masses and hosting weddings and baptisms for employees and passengers, all under the watchful gaze of a six-foot-tall statue of the Virgin Mary.
Originally, these sacred spaces were tailored for airline personnel whose demanding schedules clashed with their ability to attend mass. However, according to the International Association of Civil Aviation Chaplains, over half of the busiest airports in the nation now feature interfaith chapels or prayer rooms that mirror the evolving religious makeup of America.
Notably, airports such as New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, Washington Dulles International, and Ronald Reagan Washington National all provide an Islamic center, a Jewish synagogue, and a Catholic church, serving as spiritual sanctuary for travelers and airline personnel.
Moreover, travelers can find various prayer spaces at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, which hosts chapels in every terminal, including two accessible before security screening. All chapels remain open 24/7, offering convenience and comfort to those in need of reflection.
Interfaith Rooms
By the 2000s, many airport chapels transitioned to interfaith chapels, expanding their inclusivity for all religious visitors. A notable example is the chapel at San Francisco International Airport, known as the Berman Reflection Room, which is named in honor of Jewish philanthropist Henry Berman. This space is lush with plants and free from any religious symbols.
These sacred spaces are often discreetly located and can be found on airport maps denoted by a symbol representing a person in prayer. About half of the existing chapels across the U.S. are accessible before security screening, providing travelers with quiet areas of retreat.
Due to increased tensions and incidences of violence against religious institutions in the U.S., Orlando International Airport officials have recently ceased religious services at their two reflection rooms. Nonetheless, travelers are still permitted to pray or meditate there.
While four of the largest airports in the United States—namely Los Angeles International Airport (the second-busiest in the country), New York’s LaGuardia, Philadelphia International Airport, and McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas—may not have formal chapels, they still provide alternative tranquil options for passengers.
Accommodating Passengers with Autism and Developmental Disabilities
The flying experience can often pose significant challenges for travelers on the autism spectrum and their families. To assist those on the spectrum in managing the stress associated with unfamiliar sounds and environments, at least seven airports—Shannon in Ireland; London’s Gatwick; Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport; Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport; Myrtle Beach Airport; Lehigh Valley International Airport; and most recently, Presley’s Place at Pittsburgh International Airport—have introduced sensory rooms.
Pittsburgh’s spacious 1,500-square-foot sensory room is open 24/7 and features a replica airplane cabin, allowing parents and children to practice sitting in an aircraft. Although the specifications may differ from one location to another, each sensory room is designed to soothe visitors of all ages.
FAM Act Protects Nursing Travelers in U.S. Airports
The recently enacted ‘Friendly Airports for Mothers (FAM) Act’ mandates that the 61 large and medium hub airports in the U.S. provide private ‘lactation areas’ beyond security in every terminal. This essential amenity may manifest as formal nursing rooms or breastfeeding pods.
For instance, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, recognized as the world’s busiest airport, has six lactation pods located near its gates to accommodate traveling families. Additionally, ADA-compliant Mother’s Rooms at Chicago O’Hare Airport offer 24/7 access in every terminal, featuring comfortable seating, sinks, electrical outlets, diaper changing surfaces, soft lighting, and locking doors.
