In typical JR Hokkaido fashion, the columns are made from recycled rails
>>915658Expectations of the customer. Ignoring the old ones (since there aren't really any airports with truly old buildings), people pass through at least 2 stations every time they travel which is probably every day. Thus there is a desire to at least make their life that little bit less depressing
With an airport, things are usually at least half decent in most lounges. Beyond that, using the same airport every day because you commute like that is highly unlikely. Airports are usually cash cows too so they don't really give a fuck about infrequent travellers. Oh and the aesthetic - aeroplanes are sleek so there's that also
In a way, you could argue I guess that airports are grand like modern Shinkansen stations. But at least with the Shinkansen station, the one and only layer of bureaucracy you have to contend with is the ticket gate
