Law defines airports, no matter the type, as a place intended for the landing and takeoff of aircraft. The law also stipulates the buildings and rights of way needed to safely and effectively run the airport. However, the way they operate depends on the type of airport. Through in-depth coursework in the online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Aviation Management program from Florida Institute of Technology, aspiring professionals in the field can learn everything they need to know about airports in the U.S.
There is a wide variety among the more than 14,400 private-use and 5,000 public-use airports, including roughly 3,300 public-use facilities included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). Each airport category offers its own unique set of services and requires airport managers to take different approaches to management. Here are the different types of airports, as well as the facilities they use, the services they provide and the overall capacity.
Commercial Service Airports
The FAA classifies commercial service airports as publicly owned airports that have at least 2,500 passenger boardings each year and receive scheduled passenger service. Ownership of the airport can vary. These airports may be owned by cities, counties, states or the federal government, or some combination of two government entities. In many cases, a new government agency is formed to directly manage the airport, typically under the term “airport authority” or something similar. The FAA breaks down types of commercial service airports into several subcategories, as follows:
- Non-primary commercial service airports — These airports are non-hub airports that have at least 2,500 passenger boardings but no more than 10,000.
- Primary commercial service airports — These are the airports that have more than 10,000 passenger boardings each year. Most people are familiar with the larger airports, such as John F. Kennedy International in New York City, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International or Los Angeles International. However, primary airports also include airports in smaller cities and regional airports meant to provide flight availability to people in more rural regions.
Primary airports are broken down into four different subsets. The FAA qualifies these subsets by the number of passenger boardings — more than 10,000 per year — and the percentage of annual passenger boardings nationwide:
- Non-hub primary: less than 0.05%
- Small hub: at least 0.05%, but less than 0.25%
- Medium hub: at least 0.25%, but less than 1%
- Large hub: equal to or greater than 1%
Cargo Service Airports and Reliever Airports
To receive cargo service airport designation, airports must have an annual landed total weight of more than 100 million pounds, according to the FAA. The FAA defines landed weight as “the weight of aircraft transporting only cargo in intrastate, interstate, and foreign air transportation.” An airport can be both a commercial service and a cargo service airport.
The FAA designates reliever airports to relieve traffic from larger airports and improve access to general aviation for the community. Both government agencies and private companies can own these airports.
General Aviation Airports
According to 2024 FAA data, there are more than 19,000 airports, heliports, seaplane bases and other landing facilities in the U.S. and its territories. Roughly 88% of the 3,300+ airports included within the NPIAS are general aviation airports. These airports are used for aeromedical flights, aerial firefighting, law enforcement and disaster relief. The following are further use of general aviation airports:
- Remote population and island access
- Self-piloted business flights
- Flight instruction
- Personal flying
- Agricultural support
- Tourism and access to special events
In addition to different uses, there are also many types of general aviation airports. In fact, general aviation airports are divided into four categories:
- National airports provide communities with access to national and international markets in multiple states and throughout the United States.
- Regional airports support regional economies by connecting communities to statewide and interstate markets.
- Local airports provide access to intrastate and regional markets.
- Basic airports link communities to the national airport system and support general aviation activities.
Large vs. Small Airports
In addition to all the categories above, there are some major differences in the issues that airport managers face between overseeing large and small airports. Both the size and type of an airport can inform the knowledge and skills aviation managers will need to be successful in their roles.
Large airports see much higher flight traffic volume, meaning a more complicated ground transportation system to support those flights and move people through the airport. Another issue they face is managing traffic at night, especially in large cargo service airports. Larger airports can also accommodate large aircraft.
Small airport managers will support more propeller-driven planes and much less overall traffic. Fixed Base Operators manage many small airports. A Fixed Base Operator is a business that contracts with the airport to operate on its property and provide services such as maintenance and fuel to aircraft.
No matter the size or type of airport, airport management is a fascinating and exciting career. It’s one that will face ever-evolving challenges as the air travel and cargo transportation industries continue to grow and evolve.
Learn more about Florida Tech’s online BA in Aviation Management program.
