Airports

Airport. Luchthaven. Aéroport. Aeropuerto. Lapangan-terbang. Lentokenttä. Hikoujou. Aeroporto. Whatever language you speak, wherever you come from, it is widely accepted that mankind has come to rely heavily on air travel and hence airports. Millions around the world make their way through the terminals of both international and domestic airports on a daily basis. Flights are scheduled throughout the day to a wide variety of destinations, serving tourists, business travelers and those who are emigrating. It is an undeniable truth that airports play an integral role in the lives of people today.

How is an airport defined? Essentially an airport is a specialized facility which allows for the take-off and landing of various aircraft. At its simplest an airport typically consists of an airfield or runway along with control tower, aircraft hangars and terminal buildings for passengers and cargo. A large portion of airports, however, go beyond providing just the basics, providing air traffic control, base operator services and facilities for the comfort and convenience of passengers.

When the history of aircraft just began, airplanes would make use of large open fields for landing and take-off. Amongst the first aerodromes opened was Taliedo Airport in Milan. It began as a simple facility with a landing strip, hangars and observation stands, but over time developed into a proper airport handling commercial flights. As the years progressed so did airports. Technologies were updated, facilities for aircraft and travelers were improved until they developed into the airports we all use extensively today.

Airports are frequently named for the location in which they are found. Alternatively airports are named after well-known individuals such as past politicians. Airports are usually issued with an IATA airport code as well as an IACO airport code. These are referred to as Airport Identifier Codes and are made up of 3 or 4 letters. Airports can be categorized as domestic, regional or international. Domestic airports are often smaller as they deal only with national flights. They will therefore not have facilities for immigration or customs. Regional airports cater to a certain geographical range and are mostly used by small business jets and the like. International airports are major points of entry into countries. They are larger airports with facilities for the handling of immigrations and customs. Along with international air traffic they also care for domestic flights. The names of international airports such as Kennedy International Airport, Vancouver International Airport, Heathrow Airport, Munich International Airport, Charles de Gaulle International Airport and Milan Malpensa International Airport are easily recognized.

In this section of Airplanes.com you will gain insight into various airports across the globe. From Airports in the USA to the UK, from Japan to South Africa, from Russia to Austrailia, we provide a comprehensive and helpful list. Climb aboard for a journey around the world.