LONDON , England ( CNN ) -- Space travel , security threats and increasing passenger numbers are forcing major changes in the way airports are designed . Elegant space : the interior of the proposed Virgin Galactic spaceport in New Mexico . In fact , when discussing the future of the airport it is now appropriate to consider both conventional air travel hubs we are familiar with , as well as the imminent 'spaceports ' . The rush of interest in setting up 'space tourism ' companies has seen proposed spaceport projects in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates , and California , Oklahoma , New Mexico , Florida , Virginia , Alaska and Wisconsin in the United States . Russia , Australia , Sweden and Portugal have also been rumored as potential spaceport locations . Meanwhile , the air travel industry is continuing to expand operations despite the challenges facing some airlines . And there are some radical new ideas being developed for future air and spaceports . See a picture gallery of futuristic airport and spaceport designs » . The adventurous views of Dave Evans , chief technologist at business solutions company Cisco Systems , highlight the types of changes we could soon see in airports and indeed the new features we may witness in spaceports . Speaking at a FAA/NASA/Industry Airport Planning Workshop in 2006 , Evans suggested that pilots of the future could fly without hands and from the comfort of their own home ( using brain-machine interfaces , in which the human brain actually exchanges electronic signals with a computer ) . He also said future airports would have virtual intelligence personnel to perform the jobs of many airport workers ; and that people would be able to check-in remotely using a cell phone embedded with a RFID ( radio frequency identification ) chip . But what will these new airports and spaceports look like ? Graeme Johns , who is an architect at British airport design company , The Design Solution , believes airports of the future will continue to expand , with bigger security and commercial areas . Johns , who is involved in projects in London ( the new Heathrow T2 terminal ) , Delhi , Mumbai , Doha , Abu Dhabi and Oman , said many new airports were being more adventurous with designs . `` I think there is definitely a move towards more avant-garde designs . People are trying to do things more site-specific rather than keeping to the same old formula . `` Definitely in the Middle East they throw everything at it , also in the Far East there are some large developments . They are all vying for transit passages , '' he said . Johns said one of the biggest challenges was balancing commercial space with operational space . `` There 's lots of pressure to make larger security areas ... but a big thing for us is trying to move up the commercial side of airports . '' Future airports would likely include a better range of shops , he said . `` We are definitely looking at broadening the offering of shops and bringing in things that have n't traditionally been in airports , '' John said . If all of this is n't exciting enough for you -- then of course there are spaceports . Internationally renowned design company Foster and Partners won a competition to build Virgin Galactic 's spaceport in New Mexico . Company founder Lord Norman Foster said the project was one of the most exciting and futuristic he had been involved in . `` This technically complex building will not only provide a dramatic experience for the astronauts and visitors , but will set an ecologically sound model for future spaceport facilities . '' And what will this magnificent new structure include ? A tunneled entrance , a 'super-hangar ' for the space-craft , and retaining walls that form an exhibition documenting the history of space exploration alongside the story of the region , are just some of the features . So whether or not you have the money to make the space flight , Virgin Galactic 's spaceport is going to be a place well worth visiting .
Airports are likely to see bigger security and commercial areas in future . Comment: The Middle East and Far East are creating the most futuristic new airports .