Roberta Aguirre
If you're new to air travel, the terminology used to describe different parts of an airport can be confusing. A concourse is a long, rectangular part of an airport, designed to house multiple gates. Some airport terminals are split into multiple concourses, each with about 10-20 gates. The terms terminal and concourse are sometimes used interchangeably, depending on the airport layout. For example, a small airport may have a single terminal building that serves all the functions of a terminal and a concourse. In larger airports, a terminal may be connected to multiple concourses via walkways, sky-bridges, or tunnels.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | An open space or hall in an airport terminal where crowds gather |
| Interchangeability with "terminal" | The terms "terminal" and "concourse" are sometimes used interchangeably, depending on the airport's layout |
| Number of Gates | A concourse typically houses about 10-20 gates |
What You'll Learn
Terminals and concourses are used interchangeably
An airport terminal is a building where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark from aircraft. Within the terminal, passengers purchase tickets, transfer their luggage, and go through security. Airports are usually split between multiple terminals, with each terminal having all the facilities needed to operate independently.
The buildings that provide access to the airplanes (via gates) are typically called concourses. A concourse is a long, rectangular part of the airport, designed to house multiple gates. When searching for a gate, the airport terminal might be split into several concourses, each usually named after a different letter. For example, one concourse might be labelled concourse A (gates 1-20), while another is labelled concourse B (gates 21-40), and so on.
While the terms "terminal" and "concourse" have distinct meanings, they are sometimes used interchangeably, depending on the airport's layout and configuration. Smaller airports, for instance, typically have one terminal that serves all the functions of both a terminal and a concourse. In larger airports, the usage varies. Some larger airports have one terminal that is connected to multiple concourses, while others have multiple terminals, each with one or more concourses. Still, other larger airports have multiple terminals that incorporate the functions of a concourse.
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Concourses are long, rectangular parts of the airport
A concourse is a place where pathways or roads meet, such as in a hotel, a convention centre, a railway station, an airport terminal, a hall, or other space. In the context of an airport, a concourse is a long, rectangular part of the airport, designed to house multiple gates. Each concourse typically contains 10-20 gates, and they are usually named after a letter. For example, one airport terminal could be split into concourse A (gates 1-20), concourse B (gates 21-40), and so on.
The terms "terminal" and "concourse" are sometimes used interchangeably, depending on the airport's layout. Generally, a concourse is a part of a terminal, and each terminal can contain multiple concourses. However, this is not always the case, and some larger airports have one terminal that is connected to multiple concourses via walkways, sky bridges, or tunnels. On the other hand, some smaller airports have a single terminal that serves all the functions of both a terminal and a concourse.
Airports are divided into concourses to make it easier for passengers to find their gates and to group gates into multiple sections. It also allows for more efficient use of the airport's land and minimises the distance from the gates to the runway for airplanes. Additionally, it is more cost-effective for airports to group domestic and international flights into separate concourses, as this means that not all concourses need to be equipped with customs and immigration facilities.
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They are designed to house multiple gates
A concourse is a place where pathways or roads meet, such as in a hotel, a convention centre, a railway station, or an airport terminal. In the context of an airport, a concourse is a long, rectangular part of the airport, designed to house multiple gates. Typically, each concourse within an airport terminal houses about 10-20 gates.
When searching for your gate at an airport, you may find that the terminal is split into multiple concourses, each usually named after a different letter. For example, one airport terminal could be split into concourse A (gates 1-20), concourse B (gates 21-40), and so on. This system of dividing the airport into sections makes it easier for passengers to find their gates. It also helps to effectively utilise the airport's land and minimise the distance from the gates to the runway for airplanes.
The terms "terminal" and "concourse" are sometimes used interchangeably, depending on the airport layout. In smaller airports, the single terminal building often serves all the functions of a terminal and a concourse. In larger airports, the usage of these terms varies. Some larger airports have one terminal connected to multiple concourses, while others have multiple terminals, each with one or more concourses.
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They are usually named after letters
A concourse is a place where pathways or roads meet, such as in a hotel, a convention centre, a railway station, an airport terminal, a hall, or another space. In the context of an airport, a concourse is a long, rectangular part of the airport, designed to house multiple gates. Each concourse is usually named after a different letter to make it easier for passengers to remember where they are. For example, an airport terminal might be split into concourse A (gates 1-20), concourse B (gates 21-40), and so on. This way, if your gate number is 44, you know to head to concourse C, and then to gate 44.
The terms "terminal" and "concourse" are sometimes used interchangeably, depending on the airport's layout. However, in general, a terminal is a building at an airport where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark from aircraft. Within the terminal, passengers purchase tickets, transfer their luggage, and go through security. Airports are usually split into multiple terminals, and each terminal has all the facilities needed to operate independently (customs, immigration, security, check-ins, runways, gates, baggage handling, etc.).
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They are also called airport piers
A concourse is a building that provides access to aeroplanes through gates. They are sometimes called terminals, though a terminal can also refer to a larger building that houses several concourses.
A pier is a type of concourse. They are long, rectangular parts of the airport, designed to house multiple gates. Piers are connected to other piers on one end with a perpendicular building, while concourses are connected by buses or tunnels.
The terms concourse, terminal, and pier are used for navigating within airports.
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Frequently asked questions
A concourse is a place where pathways or roads meet, such as in an airport terminal. It is an open space or hall where crowds gather and is designed to house multiple gates.
The terms "terminal" and "concourse" are often used interchangeably and may vary depending on the airport layout. Terminals usually refer to the buildings where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark from aircraft. Concourses refer to the long, rectangular parts of the airport that house multiple gates.
Airports are split into concourses to make it easier for passengers to find their gates and to effectively use the airport's land. It also minimises the distance from the gates to the runway for airplanes.
A concourse typically houses about 10-20 gates, although this can vary depending on the airport.
You can find your concourse and gate by looking at the airport's map or directory. Each concourse is usually named after a letter, and the gates within that concourse will be numbered. For example, if your gate number is 44, you would need to go to concourse C (assuming it follows the pattern of concourse A, B, C, etc.) and then locate gate 44 within that concourse.
