Roberta Aguirre
An airport is a place where aircraft take off and land, and that has buildings and facilities for passengers. Airports are essential for the economic development of any place, improving communications, creating jobs, and generating economic activity. Aeronautical revenue is generated through airline rents, landing, passenger service, parking, and hangar fees. Airports can be divided into civil airports, general aviation airports, and air cargo airports.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Place for aircraft | Take off and landing |
| Runways | Paved |
| Maintenance facilities | Yes |
| Terminal | Yes |
| Accommodations for passengers | Yes |
| Buildings | Yes |
| Facilities | Yes |
| Aircraft traffic | Yes |
| Aircraft parking area | Yes |
| Landside | Publicly accessible airport check-in desks, shops, and ground transportation facilities |
| Airside | Runways, taxiways, and aircraft parking area |
| Aeronautical revenue | Airline rents, landing, passenger service, parking, and hangar fees |
| Non-aeronautical revenue | Lease revenue from compatible land-use development, non-aeronautical building leases, retail and concession sales, rental car operations, parking, and in-airport advertising |
| Concession revenue | Duty-free, bookstores, restaurants, and money exchange |
| Car parking | A growing source of revenue for airports |
| Local monopolies | Yes |
| Security | Tightly controlled |
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What You'll Learn
Aircraft take-off and landing
An airport is a place where aircraft regularly take off and land, and typically has paved runways and maintenance facilities. Aircraft take-off and landing procedures at airports involve several critical steps and considerations to ensure the safety and efficiency of flight operations.
Before an aircraft takes off, it undergoes a pushback procedure, where it is pushed backward away from the airport gate by vehicles called tugs or tractors. An aircraft tug is positioned directly in front of the nose wheel, either attached with a tow bar or as a "wheel-lift" tug that lifts and controls the nose gear. This process is essential to manoeuvre the aircraft in the desired direction before departure.
Once the aircraft is cleared for take-off, pilots must consider various factors that influence take-off performance, including environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, and wind. Additionally, the runway slope plays a crucial role in aircraft take-off, as an uphill or downhill slope can impact the required runway length and the aircraft's ability to take off safely. The use of flaps and high-lift devices during take-off helps to reduce stall speed and improve performance, especially when operating from shorter runways.
During the landing phase, pilots are trained to manage a range of conditions, including weather, altitude, terrain, and wind direction, to ensure a safe landing. Landing distances are significantly influenced by the square of the aircraft's weight, meaning a heavier aircraft will require a longer runway. Similar to take-off, landing distances are also affected by air density, with higher density altitudes and hotter conditions requiring longer runways. The deployment of full flaps and high-lift devices during landing helps to minimize landing distances and reduce landing airspeeds.
Airports play a vital role in supporting aircraft operations during take-off and landing. They provide essential infrastructure, including paved runways, maintenance facilities, and passenger terminals. Additionally, airports generate revenue through aeronautical and non-aeronautical sources, such as landing fees, passenger services, parking, retail, and concessions, contributing to the overall sustainability and development of aviation operations.
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Paved runways
An airport is a place where aircraft land and take off, with buildings and facilities for passengers. Aircraft operate from airports, which usually have paved runways and maintenance facilities. Airports are divided into landside and airside zones. The landside zone is subject to fewer special laws and is part of the public realm, while access to the airside zone is tightly controlled.
The airside zone includes runways, taxiways, and the aircraft parking area. Runways are essential components of an airport, enabling aircraft to take off and land safely. These runways are typically paved and surfaced to ensure smooth and efficient aircraft movement. Larger airports for airline flights generally have paved runways of 2,000 m (6,600 ft) or longer. However, smaller airfields might have shorter runways, sometimes less than 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in length.
The length and condition of runways are critical factors in aviation. Paved runways provide a smooth and even surface for aircraft to accelerate during takeoff and decelerate during landing. The paving material, typically asphalt or concrete, is carefully selected to withstand the weight of aircraft and the friction generated during aircraft movement. Regular maintenance is conducted to ensure the runway's surface remains intact, free from cracks or potholes, and properly marked with lines and lighting to guide pilots.
In conclusion, paved runways are a defining feature of airports, facilitating aircraft operations, enhancing safety, and supporting the efficient movement of passengers and cargo. These runways are meticulously designed, constructed, and maintained to ensure the smooth flow of air traffic and the overall functionality of the airport.
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Maintenance and passenger facilities
An airport is a place where aircraft land and take off, with buildings and facilities for passengers. Airports are divided into landside and airside zones. Landside is subject to fewer legal restrictions and is part of the public realm, while access to the airside zone is tightly controlled. Landside facilities include publicly accessible airport check-in desks, shops, and ground transportation facilities. The airside zone includes runways, taxiways, and the aircraft parking area.
- Maintenance Facilities: These facilities are crucial for the upkeep and repair of aircraft. They include hangars, maintenance buildings, and specialised equipment. Aircraft maintenance involves regular inspections, servicing, and repairs to ensure airworthiness and compliance with aviation regulations. Maintenance facilities may also include fuel storage and refuelling equipment, as well as ground support equipment such as tugs and conveyor belts.
- Passenger Terminals: Passenger terminals are buildings where passengers check-in for their flights, go through security, and wait before boarding. They are designed to facilitate efficient passenger processing and provide a range of amenities. Terminals typically include departure lounges, gate areas, retail spaces, restaurants, and duty-free shops. They also accommodate essential services such as customs and immigration, baggage claim, and ground transportation access.
- Passenger Services: Airports offer a range of services to enhance the passenger experience. These include information desks, baggage handling, ground transportation options such as car rentals and shuttle services, and assistance for passengers with special needs. Airports also provide basic amenities like restrooms, nursing rooms, prayer rooms, and smoking areas.
- Concession and Retail: Airports generate significant revenue through concession stands, duty-free shops, bookstores, restaurants, and other retail outlets. These commercial facilities cater to the needs and convenience of passengers, offering a variety of products and services. Airports also earn revenue from car parking facilities, with many passengers choosing to drive to the airport and park their vehicles for the duration of their trip.
- Aircraft Parking and Ground Handling: The aircraft parking area, also known as the apron or ramp, is where aircraft park to load and unload passengers and baggage. Efficient ground handling services are crucial for on-time flight operations. Ground handling involves coordinating the movement of aircraft, baggage, freight, and passengers between the terminal and the aircraft. This includes tasks such as aircraft marshalling, refuelling, cleaning, and catering.
In summary, maintenance and passenger facilities at airports encompass a wide range of services and infrastructure. These facilities are designed to support the safe and efficient operation of aircraft, as well as provide a comfortable and convenient experience for passengers travelling through the airport.
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Aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenue
Airports have evolved from being a basic part of aviation infrastructure to becoming business-oriented service providers. Non-aeronautical revenues are an important aspect of this transformation, contributing significantly to the overall revenue of airports worldwide. These revenues are generated from sources other than airlines and can include various activities and services.
Non-aeronautical revenues typically include income from retail, hotels, tourism facilities, business premises, real estate, and car parking. For instance, Dubai Duty-Free (DDF) is the world's largest airport retail operation, generating US$1.6 billion in sales in 2012 from 57 million passengers. Abu Dhabi International Airport also derives more than 50% of its revenue from non-aeronautical sources, including duty-free sales, retail, hotels, and food and beverage offerings.
To maximise non-aeronautical revenues, airports employ various strategies such as using data analytics, passenger profiling, and research to understand customer needs and tailor their offerings. Software like Concessionaire Analyzer+ (CA+) helps airports collect detailed sales data, automate billing, and gain insights into sales patterns to optimise revenue. Airports also focus on enhancing the overall passenger experience and forming long-term partnerships with concessionaires.
Aeronautical revenues, on the other hand, are generated from activities directly related to aviation operations. This includes fees, charges, and tariffs associated with aircraft and passenger operations. Airports aim to strike a balance between aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenues to support their infrastructure expansion and development plans.
The exploration of non-aeronautical revenue streams is an ongoing process, with airports continuously seeking innovative ways to maximise their income and reduce operating costs. By doing so, they can reinvest profits into airport infrastructure, contributing to the airport's overall success and profitability.
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Civil aviation authority
An airport is a place where aircraft regularly take off and land, and typically has paved runways and maintenance facilities. In colloquial use, the terms airport and aerodrome are often interchanged. However, the term airport may imply a certain stature upon the aviation facility that other aerodromes do not possess. In some jurisdictions, the term airport is legally reserved for aerodromes that have been certified or licensed by the relevant civil aviation authority.
Every country has a National Aviation Authority (NAA), also known as a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), that governs and regulates civil aviation. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), established by the United Nations in 1947, oversees member states and works to implement regulatory changes to ensure that best-practice regulations are adopted. The ultimate goal of these aviation authorities is aviation safety through regulation and oversight.
The specific responsibilities of a Civil Aviation Authority include overseeing aircraft airworthiness, the licensing of pilots, air traffic controllers, flight dispatchers, and maintenance engineers, licensing of airports, and other aviation standards. In some countries, the CAA may also build and operate airports, including non-airside operations such as passenger terminals. However, civil aviation authorities do not regulate military aviation, which typically has a separate personnel licensing system.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), established in 2003, standardises aviation regulations across the European Union and the European Free Trade Association. It replaced the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA), which was founded in 1970 to facilitate cooperation between European CAAs and establish minimum standards.
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Frequently asked questions
An airport is a place where aircraft land and take off, and that has buildings and facilities for passengers.
There are civil airports, general aviation airports, and air cargo airports. Civil airports are intended for passengers using aircraft as a means of transportation. General aviation airports host any civil flight that is not operated by regular or charter airlines. Air cargo airports are located in strategic areas to serve as the departure or arrival point for cargo transported by air.
In colloquial use, the terms airport and aerodrome are often interchanged. However, the term airport may imply a certain stature that other aerodromes have not achieved. In some jurisdictions, an airport is a legal term reserved for aerodromes certified or licensed by the relevant civil aviation authority.
Aeronautical revenue is generated through airline rents, landing fees, passenger service, parking, and hangar fees. Non-aeronautical revenue comes from lease revenue, non-aeronautical building leases, retail, concession sales, rental car operations, parking, and in-airport advertising.
The main jobs at an airport can be divided into three groups: ramp services (handling), commercial and auxiliary services, and technical positions. Ramp services involve assisting aircraft with flight operations, and include positions like flight coordinator, ramp agent, gateway operators, check-in staff, and fuel supply staff. Commercial and auxiliary services involve working in airport businesses like stores and cafes. Technical positions are related to airport operations and include airport managers, engineers, aeronautical managers, and finance and law professionals.
