Airports: Understanding The Different Varieties And Their Functions

Airports are more than just areas where aeroplanes take off and land. They are complex ecosystems with their own unique sets of services, operations, and management styles. The type of airport depends on various factors, including location, aircraft type, and the services provided. Airports can be broadly classified into two types: primary and non-primary. However, there are several other categories, including commercial service airports, general aviation airports, cargo service airports, and more. Each airport type caters to different needs and varies in terms of facilities, flight types, and passenger services.

Different Types of Airports and their Characteristics

Commercial service airports

Non-primary commercial service airports, also known as non-hub airports, are the first category of commercial service airports. These airports handle at least 2,500 passenger boardings but no more than 10,000 per year. They are smaller in scale compared to primary commercial service airports and may serve both smaller cities and rural regions, ensuring flight availability for people in less populated areas.

The second category is primary commercial service airports, which are the larger, more well-known airports such as John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, and Los Angeles International Airport. These airports handle more than 10,000 passenger boardings each year and often serve major cities, handling a significantly higher volume of passenger traffic.

Primary commercial airports can be further divided into four subsets, with large hub primary airports being the busiest. These airports handle over 1% of the country's annual passenger boardings, contributing significantly to the overall air traffic in the United States.

Primary airports

• Non-hub primary airports, which handle over 10,000 but less than 0.05% of the country's annual passenger boardings.
• Large hub primary airports, which handle over 1% of the country's annual passenger boardings.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) categorises public-use airports based on the level of commercial passenger traffic through each facility. This is used to determine eligibility for funding through the federal government's Airport Improvement Program (AIP). Primary airports are more dependent on regularly scheduled commercial airline traffic.

Cargo service airports

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) defines "landed weight" as the weight of an aircraft that carries only cargo in interstate, intrastate, and foreign air transportation. Many primary or secondary commercial airports also function as cargo airports. These airports are used to reduce traffic at the busiest freight airports. Cargo service airports can be publicly or privately owned.

Dedicated cargo facilities are often owned and operated by private companies. For example, Alaska CargoPort, a cargo transfer facility, provides air cargo transfer and warehouse services. The Chicago O'Hare International Airport features four airside cargo facilities, including a 800,000-square-foot facility with seven buildings. The John F. Kennedy International Airport maintains 20 cargo facilities, most of which offer cold storage capabilities for pharmaceuticals, food, and other perishables.

During the pandemic, the global air cargo sector played a crucial role in transporting essential items such as vaccines, PPE, masks, and medical supplies. Miami International Airport (MIA), which handles 79% of all air imports and 74% of all exports from Latin America and the Caribbean, saw an increase in e-commerce goods and pharmaceutical supplies during this time. Louisville International Airport, which is the centre of UPS's (United Parcel Service) worldwide air network, handled over 5 billion pounds of cargo, freight, and mail in 2015.

General aviation airports

General aviation is a category of civil aviation that refers to all flights unrelated to regular or non-regular commercial aviation. Flights from these airports can include ultralight aircraft, gliders, paramotors, or freighters of non-regular itineraries. They are also used for business, personal, and industrial flying, as well as charter activity, aerial photography, banner towing, skydiving, sightseeing flights, and more.

According to 2024 data, there are more than 19,000 airports, heliports, seaplane bases, and other landing facilities in the US and its territories. Of the 3,300+ airports included within the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS), about 88% are general aviation airports.

Regional and national airports

In contrast, national airports provide a broader reach, offering communities access to national and international markets across multiple states and throughout a country. These airports tend to have higher passenger traffic and may serve as a hub for domestic and international flights. National airports often have longer runways capable of accommodating larger aircraft, such as those commonly used for intercontinental travel.

The distinction between regional and national airports is not always clear-cut, and there can be overlap in their functionalities. For example, a regional airport may offer limited international services, especially if it is located near a border, while a national airport may also facilitate regional flights to support statewide or interstate travel.

The management and operational challenges faced by regional and national airports differ significantly. Regional airports, being smaller, tend to have lower flight traffic volumes and a less complex ground transportation system. They primarily cater to propeller-driven planes and regional air traffic, with Fixed Base Operators often managing these facilities. On the other hand, national airports experience much higher flight traffic, necessitating sophisticated management strategies and a more intricate ground transportation network.

In summary, regional and national airports play crucial roles in connecting communities, facilitating travel, and supporting economic activities. Their specific characteristics, such as runway lengths, passenger volumes, and the presence of customs and immigration facilities, vary depending on their designated function and geographical location.

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