AIR passengers can enjoy some of the most spectacular tourist sites in the world before they even step on a plane thanks to a new art project.

Street artist Zeus has been commissioned by Gatwick Airport bosses to create two large scale urban sculptures of the iconic Chrysler Building in New York and the seven-star Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai.

The two metre concrete structures have already been seen by more than 400,000 air passengers since they were unveiled on Friday.

The two buildings were selected to symbolise two of the iconic landmarks that can be reached via Gatwick’s newly-established long-haul routes. The artworks in the North and South terminals of the airport will be in place for the next two months in which time they will be viewed by around 7.5 million passengers.

Artist Zeus, real name Dean Zeus Colman, told The Argus that he had chosen the two towers because they were “iconic” and “symbolic”.

He added: “I want my work to be as accessible to as many people as possible and so at Gatwick you have a captive audience.”