Abstract The need for air transportation increases every year. Indonesian government is on a never-ending construction of airport infrastructure across new regional points to create equitable development. Airport is an infrastructure to connect between modes of transportation. One of the most important parts of airport is the passenger terminal. Passenger terminal requires a wide-span structural system in order to accommodate arrival and departure procedures without disturbing circulation. Large wide-span structure requires an effective construction system. This paper aims to describe wide-span structures in airport terminal buildings. The method used in this study is qualitative with comparative strategy, primary data are obtained by open interviews related to airport terminal data and the secondary data related to structure obtained by a variety of literature. Data are analysed by comparing structures and construction systems at two international airports that have different structure sizes and systems, namely Husein Sastranegara Airport and Kertajati Airport. The results of this study show that alternative choices of wide span structure systems are adjusted to the form concept and airport location.