By any measure, 10159 City Airport, a 2004 re-release of 6597 Century Skyway of 1994, offers a comprehensive airport play experience. The set emphasizes activity, even on its cover. Twelve minifigures populate the airport and are provided with innumerable situations in which to interact: going through security, eating on the second level, loading freight, piloting aircraft, and supervising takeoffs and landings in the control tower.

Equipage and Atmosphere

With three aircraft fulfilling divergent functions, a panoply of rolling equipment, and elaborate communication and navigational arrays, 10159 comprehensively embraces airport activities. Its component parts, from the baggage cart to the radar dish, are invariably well-designed and complete: details have not been omitted to lower the piece count. Notable components include the spring-loaded forklift mechanism, the rolling garage door in blue, and the beloved multi-piece palm tree. The opening side panels of the double-rotor cargo helicopter are a particularly creative use of parts and lend the aircraft an appropriate bulk.

Two minifigures are of interest. The flight attendant is unique to this set but was itself re-released in a vintage minifigure collections focusing on female characters, 852769 of 2010. One of the passengers sports a white tank top featuring a windsurfing board on a red and yellow background, which has recently been reprised in the nostalgic 30369 Beach Buggy of 2020.

The panoramic depiction of 10159 on the cover of the instructions, in the gorgeous style of the late ’80s and early ’90s, does not convey the sprawling nature of the set. Its wealth of baseplates includes four 32x32s with three different printed designs (for the road and runways, one with a different print than in 1994), one 32x16 (for the terminal), and one 16x16 (for the control tower). Even with all of these baseplates, the runway, at 96 studs long, still feels absurdly short. By the standards of 2020, however, when even one baseplate in a set is rare, 10159 is more than generous.

The set evokes a different era of air travel, when one walked out onto the tarmac and flying was still luxurious. Indeed, it offers an idyllic vision of flying. Tellingly, the terminal incudes an x-ray machine but not a metal detector. Its original name of 1994, Century Skyway, expressed this breezy, optimistic, and evocative atmosphere better than the more descriptive City Airport of 2004. The “AIROLINE” logo, with a red globe in its center, is reminiscent of the Pan Am logo.

Incipient Juniorization

City Airport, in its 1994 incarnation as 6597, preceded the advent of juniorization by three years. The juniorized town would be visualized, fully formed, in the advertising images for the road baseplates of 1997. Its apparently sudden emergence remains puzzling. How did what is widely regarded as the golden age of Town give way so quickly to the reviled constructions of the late ’90s and early ’00s?

10159 suggests that the principles of juniorization gradually emerged and became dominant in the early ’90s. It remains appropriately modernist and transparent for an airport, but its design mirrors that of a variety of other sets, and followed closely on the similar 6393 International Jetport of 1990. Both of these airports closely resemble other large-scale buildings of the early ’90s: 6398 Central Precinct HQ (1993), 6571 Flame Fighters (1994), 6598 Metro PD Station (1996).

Although not yet juniorized, these sets display some of the traits of juniorization: construction based on and built around windows and doors, rather than windows and doors inserted into an otherwise integral structure; highly standardized designs, including prescribed widths (eight studs) and heights (five or six bricks); one-piece walls and standardized one-piece chassis. Important differences remain: 10159 and its peers use plate, rather than brick floors, and fewer one-piece walls and chassis. Juniorization proper uses a different vocabulary of pieces but its grammar is similar and it offers a similarly totalizing style. In large buildings of the early ’90s we witness the emergence of an attitude that buildings can and should have similar profiles despite divergent functions.

Nonetheless, 10159 offers exceptional opportunities for play and a comprehensive depiction of an airport that has only become more impressive in light of subsequent offerings. Five stars.

This is one of the first sets I ever got, when it first came out in 2004. At the time, I was too young to appreciate the scale and detail of LEGO sets, but looking at it now, I am delighted to say that it's definitely the most eye-catching part of my vast LEGO City.

The Airplane:

It may be a little small compared to most recent airports, with the main body being only 4 studs wide, but it still occupies up to 4 passengers and a driver/pilot easily; though some head wear proves to be too much for the small design and it sometimes doesn't shut properly. The wheels are very realistic, but the front one seems to get jammed when you push the plane along (whether or not this happens to everyone else's, I have no clue) which is slightly annoying, but bearable. The luggage compartment is a nice little touch too, and the wingspan is a good size: not out of proportionally small, and not spilling over the sides of the runway. Overall, very standard and decent, but not entirely well made.

The Cargo Helicopter:

I adore this little addition to the set, it's realistic, practical and has many uses. There are little doors on the rear which I don't see a purpose to, but they are good all the same: might as well use them if they're there. Movement of the wheels and propellers are great, and the loading shelf is perfect height for the forklift, which has clearly been well thought out.

Other Vehicles:

Firstly, the forklift: very realistic and co-ordinates with the cargo helicopter well. The boxes provided fit perfectly, though it sometimes over balances. Octan fuel car: cute little touch, though I can't actually see a fuel compartment on any of the vehicles. Can't complain, though. Stairs and luggage transport: the car itself is standard, though the luggage bay is quite cool. I have a few problems with the stairs though, surely with such a standard design you could make the vehicle so that it can reverse to the side of the plane, disconnect and then drive off: the stairs should have been fixed on the other way. However, it's not a big deal and you can always build the stairs with the car fixing on the other side, or just sin the stairs around once they've been disconnected. Helicopter: standard, cute. No purpose but still good all the same.

Airport & Runway:

The runway is good; I haven't seen a LEGO set with a runway included since this, which makes it entirely different from more recent designs, though it should be longer. Not a problem if you can hunt around for identical plates. I personally love the little roundabout, which I haven't seen before: very cute. The lookout tower is quite clever, with not much building required though it produces quite a cool addition to the set. However, the random 16x16 square makes the set a little awkward to fit into a City: there will always be blank gaps. The airport itself makes great use of the little space provided: with a helicopter pad on top of the garage, a bridge above the driveway, and in places, three floors of fun. Inside there's a restaurant, which is good but there could've been something more relevant in its place: a waiting area with a time screen perhaps? The reception features a desk, standard, and some lockers which I find quite cool. The time/location table protrudes beyond the base plate, which I see no point in, but it's still there nevertheless. There's also a little luggage scanning belt inside, which fits a regular suitcase nicely, and is a wonderful little touch.

Conclusion:

Overall, very good and realistic. I recommend to anyone looking for a LEGO Airport, rather than the newer sets.

The detail to this set is astounding. As one of the last Lego sets that I've gotten (unfortunately), it was a great piece to "go out" with.

Anyways:
Pros:
-All the minifigs
-an AWESOME control tower and garage for the vehicles
-a sweet plane
-great detail even inside the airport - seats, tables, and even a baggage security check!
-a functioning forklift (probably one of the more fun things to play with)

Cons:
-Not enough runway.

othwerise, great set! I would recommend this to anyone, and I sure am glad that I nabbed it during the short time that they brought it back from retirement!

This is the most beautiful and impressive airport set lego ever made!

Pros:
- cool passenger plane
- really nice transport helicopter
- also a small personal helicopter
- garage
- just look how much minifigs there are!
- octan feul car
- nice other vehicles for bagage.
- great airport design
(- good to use togheter with airport shuttle)

cons:
- no

Building time: 45-60 minutes
building fun: 10/10
Structure: 10/10
Strength: 10/10
Playability 10/10
Amount of rare items: 8/10
Price: 10/10
Overall: 9,7/10

Just buy it if you can!

Unfortunately I have this downstairs in a Rubbermaid container as I don't have any place to put it in my room (it is quite large after all), and I've traded the forklift and helicopters for some Bionicles from my brother. They haven't been seen since. :( Otherwise, my set is complete and I really like it. The airplane, of course, is kinda cramped inside, only having room for five minifigs including the pilot, but it's good. The control tower is very detailed, as well as the terminal with its tables, chairs, counter, and flight plan. The landing pad for the small helicopter has a garage underneath for the various vehicles. Overall a great set.

Pros:

-Minifigs

-Vehicles (gas truck, luggage truck, forklift)

-Control tower

-Airplane

-Minifigs

Cons:

-I traded the helicopters :(

GREAT SET!! !! !! PLEASE GET IT!! !! !!