AIRPORT
Ashgabat Turkmenistan,ASB
THE FLIGHT
EK2215 Ashgabat to Dubai with FlyDubai,economy class
THE ARRIVAL
The capital of Turkmenistan is eerily empty,even during peak hour. At midday,I count not more than two cars on its eight-lane streets. So at 1.30am,we have a clean,10 kilometre run to the airport to the north of Ashgabat.
THE LOOK
The airport was opened in late 2016 and the terminal entrance is modelled on a Turkmen falcon and the bow of legendary warrior Oghuz Khagan. In his reign,the previous dictator,Turkmenbashi,had the city's utilitarian Soviet buildings clad in dazzling white marble,and the theme continues in the airport. Its beautiful ceilings,with patterns drawn from traditional carpets,have few to admire them. With no music and little life,the gold and white airport is like a zombie zone.
CHECK-IN