Airports have revolutionized the way in which we travel. As you may know, they are facilities where airplanes take off and land. Airports typically feature runways, taxiways, terminals, cargo areas and various support buildings. Even if you’ve traveled through an airport, though, you might be surprised to learn the following facts about them.
#1) Multiple Revenue Streams
Airports generate revenue in many ways. Some of these revenue-generating processes are aeronautical-related, whereas others are not. Aeronautical-related revenue streams include charging commercial airlines for landing and using the airport’s runways and buildings. Non-aeronautical-related revenue streams, on the other hand, include retail sales, food and beverage sales, leasing or renting out buildings, aviation fuel sales and parking.
#2) Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport Is the Busiest Airport
Of the nearly 10,000 commercial airports in the world, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest. More than 100 million passengers travel through the Southern U.S. airport each year. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport spans 4,700 acres and features five full-size runways.
#3) Different Types of Airports
Not all airports are the same. There are different types of airports, each of which has a specific purpose. Domestic airports, for instance, are designed for flights within the borders of the country in which it’s located, whereas international airports are designed for flights between countries. As a result, international airports are equipped with customs and immigration facilities.
#4) Landside vs Airside Areas
Airports have landside and airside areas. The former includes buildings and spaces that are accessible to the public, such as waiting terminals, baggage claims and check-in counters. The latter includes spaces that are secured and inaccessible to the public, such as runways and gates.
#5) King Fahd International Airport Is the Largest Airport
Because it’s the busiest airport, some people assume Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is also the largest, but this isn’t true. The title of the world’s largest airport goes to King Fahd International Airport. Located in Saudi Arabia, it spans more than 300 square miles. To put that number into perspective, many smaller airports designed for general aviation are less than one square mile.
#6) Airports Use Three- or Four-Letter Codes
Airports use codes consisting of three or four uppercase letters. Los Angeles International Airport, for instance, uses the code LAX, whereas Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport uses the code ATL. Three-letter codes are assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), while four-letter codes are assigned by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
