Jazmin Li
An airport is an aerodrome with facilities for flights to take off and land. Airports often have facilities to store and maintain aircraft, and a control tower. An airport consists of a landing area, which includes a runway for planes to take off from, or a helipad for rotorcraft. Airports are divided into landside and airside zones, with the landside being publicly accessible and the airside zone being tightly controlled. Airports generate revenue through aeronautical and non-aeronautical sources, such as landing fees, aircraft parking, duty-free sales, and car parking. Airport codes, such as IATA codes, are used to uniquely identify airports and are often derived from the name of the city or airport. This guide will provide an overview of how to use an airport wiki, covering topics such as understanding airport terminology, navigating airport facilities, and accessing relevant airport information.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | An airport is an aerodrome with facilities for flights to take off and land |
| Landing Area | Comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surface such as a runway for a plane to take off or a helipad |
| Aerodrome | The terms airfield and airstrip also refer to airports |
| Heliport | An airport with a helipad for rotorcraft but no runway |
| Seaplane Base | An airport for use by seaplanes and amphibious aircraft, includes a stretch of open water for takeoffs and landings, and seaplane docks for tying-up |
| STOLport | Airports dedicated exclusively to short take-off and landing aircraft |
| Jurisdiction | In some, the term 'airport' is a legal term for aerodromes certified or licensed by the relevant civil aviation authority |
| Warfare | Airports can become the focus of intense fighting, and those used primarily for military purposes are called airbases or air stations |
| Ownership | Most of the world's airports are owned by local, regional, or national government bodies |
| Revenue | Sources include landing fees, aircraft parking, duty-free, bookstores, restaurants, car parking, and advertising |
| GHG Reduction | Airports are increasingly installing solar photovoltaic arrays to offset their electricity use |
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What You'll Learn
Airport terminology
Airports can be confusing places, especially for those who are unfamiliar with the jargon and terminology used by airport employees and passengers. Here is a list of some commonly used airport terms and their meanings:
- Terminal: The main building of an airport used by passengers and cargo.
- Concourse: An open space within an airport terminal for people to move around.
- Concessions: Businesses located inside the airport terminal, such as food, beverage, or retail outlets.
- Arrival/Departure Area: Also known simply as "Arrivals" or "Departures", these are areas within the terminal designated for incoming and outbound flights and passengers.
- Baggage/Baggage Area: Luggage and other items brought onto an airplane by passengers. The baggage area is where passengers deal with their luggage, often featuring moving belts for collecting checked baggage.
- Cargo/Air Cargo: Any goods transported by airplane, including suitcases, boxes, or golf bags. Large airports often have dedicated sections and warehouses for handling air cargo.
- Gates: The areas where passengers wait to board their flights and where they leave the airport building to get to their plane.
- Jetway/Loading Bridge: A hallway connecting the gate entrance to the plane's door, used for boarding and exiting.
- Runway: A strip of pavement or level ground where aircraft take off and land.
- Taxiway: A strip of land that pilots drive their planes on before takeoff and after landing.
- Hangar: A large building used for storing aircraft.
- Hub: The central location an airline uses for its operations, often including headquarters and maintenance facilities.
- Security Checkpoints: Areas used to protect passengers and crew from potential dangers by preventing the carriage of weapons or hazardous materials.
- Air Traffic Control (ATC): Staff responsible for managing aircraft in the airspace around airports and telling pilots when and where to land. They work from a control tower, usually equipped with radar and other instruments.
- Distance Measuring Equipment (DME): Technology used to measure the distance of an aircraft from a navigational aid, often co-located with a VOR.
- Decision Height: The height at which a decision must be made during an instrument approach to either continue or execute a missed approach.
- Pilot: The person who flies the plane, sitting in the cockpit with the co-pilot.
- Co-Pilot: Also known as the first officer, the co-pilot monitors the plane's controls and gauges while the pilot flies.
- Flight Attendant: Assists passengers with finding their seats, provides safety information, and offers snacks and beverages during the flight.
- Flight Monitors: Television screens displaying flight information such as flight numbers, arrival/departure times, gate information, and flight status updates.
Familiarizing oneself with these terms can significantly enhance one's understanding of airport processes and technology, making the airport experience less stressful and more comfortable.
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Airport layout
The layout of an airport depends on its size and the number of passengers it serves. Early airport terminals had an "open apron" layout, where passengers could simply walk to their aircraft. This design is still common among smaller airports. Larger airports, such as Kansas City International Airport, Munich Airport, and Charles de Gaulle Airport, use a "linear" layout, where the planes are located next to an elongated building and passengers use jet bridges to board. This design limits the number of gates as the walkability requirement dictates the total length of the building. Some airports use a variation of the linear structure, bending it into a semicircular shape, with aircraft parked on the outside and cars on the inside. This design reduces travel times between check-in and the aircraft but can result in long walks for connecting passengers.
A pier design uses a small, narrow building with aircraft parked on both sides. One end connects to a ticketing and baggage claim area. Piers offer high aircraft capacity and a simple design, but often result in long distances from the check-in counter to the gate. Most large international airports have piers, and this layout has proven to be very efficient for airports with a high percentage of transfer passengers. Remote pier layouts consist of multiple concourses connected by automatic people movers located underground or overhead.
A satellite terminal is a round or star-shaped building detached from other airport buildings, allowing aircraft to park around its entire circumference. This layout can reduce walking distances but requires a large airport apron area and is difficult to remodel for new aircraft designs. Hybrid layouts also exist, combining different design elements, such as the pier-semicircular layout used by San Francisco International Airport and Melbourne Airport.
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Airport revenue streams
Airports have traditionally relied on aeronautical revenue, which includes income generated from activities directly linked to air traffic, such as landing fees, aircraft parking charges, and passenger security fees. However, this revenue stream is often influenced by factors beyond the airport's control, such as airline routes and the performance of the aviation industry. Therefore, airports have started to focus on diversifying their revenue streams by exploring non-aeronautical income sources.
Non-aeronautical revenue comprises income from airport-related services and facilities, such as retail shopping, food and beverage, advertising, car rentals, parking, and real estate leasing. By offering a wide range of these services, airports can improve the passenger experience, increase customer satisfaction and loyalty, and attract more passengers and businesses. This diversification of income sources helps reduce financial instability and ensures financial growth.
To further enhance non-aeronautical revenue, airports are leveraging digital technologies and data analytics. Digital directory screens, for example, can provide wayfinding information while also displaying targeted advertisements. Passenger flow technologies help airport operators understand high-traffic areas to optimize advertising placements. Additionally, data-driven pricing strategies and dynamic pricing models allow airports to set flexible prices based on demand, occupancy levels, and other factors.
Another way airports are modernizing their revenue streams is through digital marketplace integration. By collaborating with technology companies, airports can offer travellers the convenience of pre-ordering and picking up items through airport apps, enhancing the duty-free shopping experience. Airports can also partner with local artisans and businesses to offer unique, locally crafted products, providing travellers with an authentic shopping experience. These innovative approaches help airports achieve financial stability and create a dynamic and engaging environment for travellers.
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Environmental initiatives
One notable initiative is the adoption of renewable energy sources, such as solar power. The world's first airport to be fully powered by solar energy is located in Kochi, India. This airport has installed solar photovoltaic arrays, which can also be placed on roofs, and these have been proven to be safer and more effective than residential panels. Airports with smaller, less complex organizational structures have been leaders in implementing newer technologies, while larger airports have the resources to develop comprehensive new programs.
Airports are also tackling carbon emissions and single-use plastics. For example, Dubai International Airport joined the Plastic Free July movement, partnering with Disney Middle East to raise awareness about recycling and eliminating single-use plastics. Similarly, Air New Zealand removed individual plastic water bottles from certain cabins and introduced other initiatives to reduce single-use plastics on its flights. Etihad has also pledged to reduce single-use plastic usage by 80% across the entire organization by 2022.
Some airports are also investing in electric vehicles to reduce emissions. For instance, KCIA in King County, Washington, purchased a battery-electric runway sweeper and was the first airport in the US to acquire a hybrid electric airport fire engine. KCIA is also working with WSP, an engineering firm, to further its environmental initiatives.
Additionally, airlines are focusing on reducing food waste. Singapore Airlines (SIA) uses customer surveys, data analytics, and staff feedback to minimize food wastage, and they plan to use artificial intelligence and machine learning to better predict consumption patterns.
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Airport codes
The three-letter airport codes are known as IATA airport codes, defined by the International Air Transport Association, and they are used in passenger reservations, ticketing, and baggage-handling systems. They are an essential part of the travel experience, appearing on baggage tags and serving as a quick and efficient way to refer to specific airports.
ICAO airport codes, defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization, are another type of airport code. These are four-character alphanumeric codes used by ATC systems and for airports that do not have an IATA code. ICAO codes are used by air traffic control for flight planning and airline operations and are not typically seen by passengers during reservations or baggage handling.
There are online search tools, such as the one provided by IATA, that allow users to search for the two-letter airline codes and three-letter airport codes. These tools provide official and accurate information on the codes used by airlines and airports worldwide. Additionally, websites like World Airport Codes offer a comprehensive database of over 47,000 airport codes, abbreviations, runway lengths, and other airport information for travellers seeking detailed insights into their departure or arrival airport.
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Frequently asked questions
An airport is an aerodrome with facilities for flights to take off and land. Airports often have facilities to store and maintain aircraft, and a control tower. Airports consist of a landing area with at least one runway or helipad, and may include adjacent buildings such as control towers, hangars and terminals.
Airports can be classified in several ways. Firstly, by the aircraft they serve: heliports, for example, are airports dedicated exclusively to helicopters. Airports can also be classified as domestic or international, with the latter containing additional facilities for customs and immigration. In terms of ownership, most airports are owned by local, regional, or national government bodies.
An IATA airport code is a three-letter geocode designating airports and metropolitan areas. They are defined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and are used, for example, on baggage tags attached at airport check-in desks.
