The most exciting new airports opening in 2019

Ilan and Asaf Ramon International Airport: This recently-opened, space-age-style airport in Israel was designed by Amir Mann-Ami Shinar Architects in partnership with Moshe Zur Architects.

Courtesy Hufton + Crow

(CNN) — Most of us wouldn't voluntarily spend longer than necessary in an airport, but after these new transport hubs open in 2019, you might feel differently.

From an otherworldly, spaceship-like building in the Israeli desert to a spectacular Singaporian hub featuring the world's tallest indoor waterfall, these new aviation spaces take airports to a new level.

Here's our round-up of the most exciting new airports and expansions opening in 2019.

Ilan and Asaf Ramon International Airport -- Israel

This new Israeli hub cost $473.5 million to build.

Courtesy Hufton + Crow

A modernist structure surrounded by desert, this new airport cost an incredible $473.5 million to construct and is the brainchild of Amir Mann-Ami Shinar Architects, in partnership with Moshe Tzur Architects.

The low-rise, minimalistic building with glass panels aims to evoke the futuristic nature of air travel, the airport's design manager, architect Amir Mann, tells CNN Travel

Located 18 kilometers from Eilat and spread over 1,250 acres, it's named after Illan Ramon, Israel's first astronaut, and his son Assaf Ramon, who was an Israel Air Force F-16 pilot.

This new Israeli airport has a futuristic design.

Courtesy Hufton + Crow

Two million passengers a year will transit through the airport and there's room for expansion in the future -- that figure's estimated to grow to roughly 4.25 million passengers annually.

The designers say they wanted the airport to feel space-age but be in harmony with its sandy surroundings. It's also designed to withstand temperatures that fluctuate as high as 45 C (113 F) during the day, before plunging during the night.

The building has been designed to adapt to the hot climate.

Courtesy Hufton + Crow

The airport opened to the public on January 21, 2019, coinciding with the closure of former airport hub J. Hozman Eilat Airport.

"We actually designed the Airport through a storyboard process, just like a movie, evaluating the passenger experience at each stage," says Mann.

Local media reports that security around the airport is particularly high -- and it's apparently designed to accommodate planes re-routed from Ben-Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv in "times of conflict."