C

ompetition between airports has never been hotter. Search for an international flight and you’ll be offered myriad options via Europe, the Middle East and Africa, often with layovers of up to seven or eight hours. And while spending half a day in an airport isn’t high on anyone’s bucket list, airports working hard to improve the experience.

Take Paris-Charles de Gaulle, for example, which recently opened its “Instant Paris” hub, offering transit passengers 4 500m² of free-access relaxation area complete with a lounge, a family play area, restaurants, a library and even a cinema.