What do Carlisle, Istanbul, New Orleans and Beijing all have in common?

They all feature in a list of the most exciting new airports opening and expanding in 2019, according to American media giant CNN.

Carlisle Lake District Airport is nestled between major airport developments across the world in a new list compiled by CNN Travel.

Commercial flights will take off at the regional airport near Crosby-on-Eden in July after a £15 million investment – mainly funded by owners Stobart Group but with a £4.9m contribution from Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership – in a new terminal building, runway improvements and associated developments.

And, while the article mentioned that “some remain sceptical about when it will get off the ground” following a number of delays, it says tickets are now on sale through carrier Loganair, offering visitors access to the Lake District, described as “a rocky region of the UK, home to rugged natural scenery”.

Kate Willard, director of partnership development at Stobart Group, said she was delighted to feature in the list.

She said: “It is great to see that the world is watching Carlisle Lake District Airport as we launch commercial flights for the first time in more than 25 years on July 4.”

The importance of Carlisle Lake District Airport to the Cumbrian and wider northern economy is well known, with flights connecting the region to London Southend, Belfast and Dublin Airports, along with the onward connections they offer.

But it appears a little off the scale compared to other airports featured in the list.

They include Beijing Daxing Airport, which has been dubbed the starfish, due to its striking design and has an ambition to become both the largest and busiest airport in the world.

When it opens this year it will boast one of the largest passenger terminals in the world served by high-speed rail and motorway connections.

Millions of passengers are also set to travel through the new futuristic, desert-surrounded Ilan and Assaf Ramon International Airport near Eilat, developed at a cost of around £460m.

Murcia-Corvera Airport – situated between Murcia and Cartagena in Spain – opened in January to become the region’s regional aviation hub following a £430m investment

Also included in the list are significant expansions to existing airports.

The Jewel Changi Airport complex was set to open this week – a new central hub that will connect three existing terminals at the Singaporean airport. Costing almost £1 billion, the building will boast the world’s tallest indoor waterfall.

A new terminal at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport it to open at a cost of around £762m, while flights are to ramp up at Istanbul Airport after it officially opened in October.