Lois Larson
The landside area of an airport is accessible to the general public, including those not travelling. It includes check-in and ticketing desks and is not considered a secure area in the same sense as the airside area. Landside facilities are the passenger and cargo terminals and the access system, which includes parking, roads, public transport facilities, and loading and unloading areas. The boundary between landside and airside is the security check, beyond which only passengers with a valid boarding pass, crew members, and staff are allowed.
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What You'll Learn
Landside is accessible to the general public
The landside area of an airport is accessible to the general public, including those who are not travelling. This includes check-in and ticketing desks and is not considered a "secure" area in the same way that the airside area is.
The landside area includes the airport terminal, check-in desks, the arrivals hall, and the curbside where travellers are dropped off or picked up. It also includes the access system, which comprises parking, roads, public transport facilities, and loading and unloading areas. In some countries, anyone, even those not travelling, can still go landside in domestic terminals. For example, in the US before 9/11, the general public had access to the airside area, but now, like most places, the airside area is only accessible to passengers.
The airside area, on the other hand, is the area beyond security and/or passport control. It is accessible only to airport staff and passengers holding valid boarding cards for imminent travel. It may also be called the sterile area, as everyone in the area has been security checked, which is a requirement given their access to flights and aircraft. The airside area includes duty-free shops, lounges, bars, cafes, restaurants, and commercial services.
From a terminal operations perspective, the difference between landside and airside is pre-security/post-security. From a planning perspective, landside is everything up to the boarding door of the aircraft, and airside encompasses the movement areas on the airport surface.
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Landside includes check-in and ticketing desks
The landside area of an airport is accessible to the general public, including those not travelling. It is not considered a "secure" area, unlike the airside area, which only passengers can access. Landside includes check-in and ticketing desks, which serve different purposes.
Check-in desks are where passengers check in for their flight. It is recommended to check in online or via an airline's mobile app before arriving at the airport, as this can provide more seat options and is helpful in the case of an overbooked flight. However, those who have checked in online may still need to visit the check-in desks to drop off their bags. At the check-in desk, passengers present their documents, such as a passport, ID, or booking code, and can hand over their checked baggage, which will be weighed and loaded onto the plane. After presenting their documents and checking their baggage, passengers receive a boarding pass.
Ticketing desks are where passengers can buy and modify tickets. They are sometimes referred to as ticket counters or shops. Ticket-trained staff are rare, and there may only be one small ticket desk compared to many check-in desks. In addition to buying and modifying tickets, passengers may be able to complete other check-in formalities at the ticketing desk if the check-in desk is not yet open.
The landside facilities, including the check-in and ticketing desks, are part of the airport's access system, which also includes parking, roads, public transport facilities, and loading and unloading areas. These facilities are accessible to the public and are not limited to passengers.
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It is not considered a secure area
The landside area of an airport is accessible to the general public, including those who are not travelling. It includes check-in and ticketing desks and is not considered a "secure" area like the airside zone. The landside area is situated before the security checkpoint, and anyone can access it without needing to pass through security or passport control. This makes it a less secure area of the airport, with mostly passive policing and security measures in place.
The landside area is typically defined as the section of the airport where cars are located, encompassing the passenger and cargo terminals, parking, roads, public transport facilities, and loading and unloading areas. It is the area where travellers are dropped off or pick up their loved ones, proceed to check-in, and drop off their bags. It may also include shops, cafes, and restaurants.
In contrast, the airside area is a security-restricted zone accessible only to passengers with valid boarding passes, crew members, and staff. It is considered a "sterile area," as everyone within this zone has undergone security screening. The airside area includes duty-free shops, lounges, bars, cafes, and restaurants, and the gates from which passengers board their flights.
The distinction between landside and airside areas is primarily for security purposes, aiming to restrict access to the aircraft and movement areas on the airport surface to authorised individuals. This division helps ensure that only those who have been security-checked can enter the airside zone and gain proximity to the aircraft.
It is worth noting that the specific definitions of landside and airside may vary slightly depending on the airport and the perspective being considered. For example, from a terminal operations standpoint, landside refers to the pre-security area, while from a planning perspective, it encompasses everything up to the boarding door of the aircraft. Additionally, historical factors may influence these definitions, as in the United States before 9/11, the general public could access the airside area.
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Landside facilities include passenger and cargo terminals
Passenger terminals are the primary drivers of activity on the landside, with the flow of vehicles directly related to the number of passenger arrivals and departures at aircraft gates. Cargo activity is a secondary driver, with trucking to and from cargo handling and freight forwarding facilities also influencing landside traffic.
The volume of landside movements is also impacted by trips to and from the airport by employees, greeters, and other visitors. Additionally, traffic that travels through the airport without being destined for it, known as "cut through", can further affect landside traffic.
Landside facilities often include multi-modal connections with other forms of public transportation, such as buses, trains, and subways. However, security measures for these transport modes are typically minimal or non-existent before arrival at the airport, so passengers must remain in the public landside area before proceeding through security screening.
The design and planning of landside facilities at airports involve various considerations, including data collection through passenger surveys, parking activity, and rental car operations. This information helps in understanding passenger behaviour and trip characteristics, aiding in the efficient management of landside operations.
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Landside is everything up to the boarding door of the aircraft
The landside area of an airport is accessible to the general public, including those not travelling. It includes check-in and ticketing desks and is not considered a "secure" area in the same sense as the airside area. Landside facilities are the passenger and cargo terminals and the access system, which includes parking, roads, public transport facilities, and loading and unloading areas.
From a terminal operations perspective, landside is everything before security/passport control. From a planning (design/engineering) perspective, landside encompasses everything up to the boarding door of the aircraft, including the movement areas on the airport surface.
In the US before 9/11, the general public had access to the airside area. Now, it is like most places: the airside area is only accessible to passengers. In some countries (e.g. NZ, Australia), anyone, even those not travelling, can still go airside in domestic terminals.
The security checkpoint is the basic dividing line between landside and airside. Airside is the area beyond security and/or passport control. It is accessible only to airport staff and passengers holding valid boarding cards for imminent travel. It may also be called the sterile area, as everyone in the area has presumably been security checked.
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Frequently asked questions
Landside at an airport is the area accessible to the general public, including those not travelling. It includes check-in and ticketing desks and is not considered a "secure" area in the same sense as the airside area.
Landside facilities include passenger and cargo terminals, parking, roads, public transport facilities, and loading and unloading areas.
Airside is the area beyond security and/or passport control, accessible only to passengers with a valid boarding pass, crew members, and staff. Landside is the area before security, accessible to anyone.
An airside connection is when your connecting flight is on the same ticket. This means you do not have to go through customs, collect your bags, or check in again—you only need to pass through security again.
