Airport FAQs

 

 

Q: Who owns and operates airports?

A: In the U.S., most airports are public non-profits, run directly by government entities or government-created authorities, known as airport or port authorities.

 

Ownership and operation of most Canadian airports generally have been transferred to municipal governments or locally-responsible airport authorities.  Others are owned by provincial or territorial governments. For more information, visit the Canadian Airports Council or Transport Canada.

 

Q: How many airports are there?

A: In the U.S., according to the Department of Transportation’s 2007-2011 National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS), there are over 19,847 airports. More than 3,364 of those airports are recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as being open to the public.  382 are Primary Airports, defined as having more than 10,000 annual passengers.  There are also 67 proposed airports, according to the NPIAS.


In Canada, nationally-significant airports form a National Airports System (NAS)


The NAS is comprised of 26 airports that link the country from coast to coast and internationally. The NAS includes those airports considered essential to Canada's air transportation system, supporting both domestic prosperity and international competitiveness.

 

Q: What are the busiest airports in the United States?

A: North America handles more passengers and cargo than any other worldwide region – more than half of the world’s busiest airports are in this region.


According to Airports Council International (ACI),  the top five busiest airports of 2007 (preliminary counts) in terms of total passengers are:

  1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
  2. Chicago O’Hare
  3. Los Angeles International Airport
  4. Dallas/Fort Worth
  5. Denver


The top five busiest in 2007 (preliminary counts) in terms of cargo (in metric tons):

  1. Memphis
  2. Anchorage
  3. Louisville
  4. Miami
  5. Los Angeles


Finally, the top five airports for 2007 (preliminary counts) in terms of total aircraft movements:

  1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
  2. Chicago O’Hare
  3. Dallas/Forth Worth
  4. Los Angeles
  5. Denver

 

Q: What is the hub-and-spoke system?

A: Some airports serve as transfer “hubs” for air carriers, facilitating efficient routing of passengers and cargo to certain destinations, or “spokes.” Small communities, in particular, benefit from this “hub-and-spoke” configuration because airlines can provide local service that might not be possible otherwise; hub-and-spoke operations connect small communities to most airlines' global networks.


The well-known airlines, sometimes called legacy carriers or network carriers, use the hub-and-spoke system. Many low-fare carriers, such as Southwest Airlines, either fly direct, non-stop flights, dubbed point-to-point, or use a modified hub system with fewer flights into the hub location.  Other low-fare carriers, such as AirTran Airways, employ the hub and spoke system.


Q: Where do those three-letter airport codes come from?

A: The three-letter codes used to identify airports are part of an industry standard, which is updated and designated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). They are often abbreviated forms of the common names of the airport. The name of the airport can be based on its location, a prominent national celebrity – often a politician – or can be named after a person associated with the region it serves. Some airports are even named after a prominent figure in aviation history.

 

Q: Are some airports Wi-Fi enabled?

A: Many airport authorities are adding Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) high speed Internet access as an amenity for travelers. Some offer access in the entire airport, while others may limit access to specified terminal or waiting areas. In addition, many airline club lounges may have their own free access available.


The availability of Wi-Fi varies widely. Some airports provide free Wi-Fi while others do not. Those that charge for Wi-Fi may either have an arrangement with one or more major telecom companies or one of several firms that specialize in providing Wi-Fi service within an airport. An airport’s website usually describes the Wi-Fi availability and any access charges.

 

 

Q: Which airports have cell phone waiting lots where passengers can wait to pick up friends and family without parking in the regular lots?

 
A: More than fifty airports currently have cell phone lots.  Here is a comprehensive list of those airports.  Information about the location of the lots can be found on the airports' websites. Click here to view a list of airports with cell phone waiting lots (pdf File). Click here to view a list of ACI-NA Airport members' websites throughout the US and Canada.


 

Q: What causes flight delays?

A: One out of four flights in the U.S. was delayed last year, as our aviation infrastructure struggled to meet demand. The FAA projects that the number of annual air travelers will increase 35 percent by 2015 to over 1 billion. In addition, there are many things that can and often do make it difficult for flights to arrive on time.


Some of these problems include bad weather, air traffic control restrictions, mechanical repairs or airline personnel issues. Sometimes it’s difficult for airlines to estimate the total duration of a delay during its early stages. In so-called "creeping delays," developments occur which were not anticipated when the carrier made its initial estimate of the length of the delay. Weather that had been forecast to improve can instead deteriorate, or a mechanical problem can turn out to be more complex than initially determined.


Q: During inclement weather how is the decision made to close an airport?

A: Airports rarely close entirely. More often, airlines make the decision to cancel flights during inclement weather. Passengers should contact their airline for information about possible flight cancellations or delays.


Airports are responsible for clearing runways and taxiways of snow and ice so aircraft operations may resume. Airport Operations, working closely with the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower, may need to temporarily close a runway to aircraft while snow clearing operations are taking place.

 

Q: What does air traffic control do?

A: Operating under federal regulations, air traffic controllers operate the air traffic control system to expedite and maintain a safe and orderly flow of air traffic and help prevent mid-air collisions. They apply separation rules to keep each aircraft apart from others in their area of responsibility and move all aircraft efficiently through the “air highways” and on to the next airport or air traffic control zone.

 

Q: What are the different types of airports in operation?

A: There are five types of U.S. airports:

  • Commercial Service airports are defined as public airports receiving scheduled service and having more than 2,500 enplaned passengers in a year. According to the 2007 NPIAS, there are 517 existing commercial service airports.
  • Of these 517 commercial service airports, 382 are Primary Airports, defined as having more than 10,000 annual enplanements. Primary airports are further defined as “hubs,” based on the percentage of the total annual U.S. passenger enplanements:
  • Large Hubs (30): Each airport handles more than 1% of all the nation’s air travelers. As a group, these airports handled 68% of all passenger enplanements in 2005.
  • Medium Hubs (37): Each airport handles between 0.25% and 1% of all the nation’s air travelers. As a group, these airports handled 20% of all passenger enplanements in 2005.
  • Small Hubs (72): Each airport handles between 0.05% and 0.25% of all the nation’s air travelers. As a group, these airports handled 8% of all passenger enplanements in 2005.
  • Non-Hubs (243): No fewer than 10,000 passengers. These airports are frequently used for general aviation aircraft.
  • Airports with more than 2,500 but fewer than 10,000 annual enplanements are defined as Non-Primary Commercial Service Airports. These 127 airports account for less than 0.1 percent of annual enplanements. 
  • Reliever Airports (274) are defined as high-capacity general aviation airports in major metropolitan areas. They must have 100 or more based aircraft or more than 25,000 itinerant operations per year. The average reliever airport has 219 based aircraft.
  • General Aviation Airports neither receive commercial service nor meet the reliever airport criteria. There are 2,573 general aviation airports in the 2007-2011 NPIAS. To qualify for listing in the NPIAS, these airports must be open to the public, have at least 10 based aircraft, and be located within 20 miles of the nearest NPIAS airport.


Q: What are airports doing to protect the environment?

A:  Although much of the environmental impact of air travel occurs during the operation of an aircraft and is outside an airport’s control, significant measures have been undertaken to better understand and reduce environmental impacts within airports’ responsibility.  Read more.


U.S. airports are subject to stringent environmental regulations set forth by federal, state, and local government agencies including the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  These regulations both require airports to affirmatively improve the environment and, at the same time, prohibit airports from regulating the operation of aircraft in flight.

 

In Canada, Environment Canada and Transport Canada oversee environmental protection regulations that airports must meet. 

 

 

Q: Are any U.S. airports controlled by a foreign entity?

A:  No. Currently, all major commercial service airports in the U.S. are owned by a unit of the local or state government.

 

Q: What are those extra charges on my tickets, like the PFC?

A: One of the extra charges listed on airline tickets may be a Passenger Facility Charge (PFC).  The PFC is a user fee that is added to an airline ticket to help pay for an airport’s capital improvements. By federal law, the PFC is now capped at a maximum $4.50.

 

PFCs are tied directly to local airport-related projects that preserve or enhance safety, capacity or security of the national air transportation system. 

Canada has an equivalent user fee entitled the Airport Improvement Fee (AIF).  This fee is not capped.

 

Q: What is the FAA and what is its function?

A: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), establishes and enforces all regulations related to airport operations and safety. The FAA is responsible for the safety of civil aviation and is instrumental in establishing safety standards for airlines.


The FAA is also involved in air traffic management, developing and operating a system of air traffic control (ATC) and navigation for both civil and military aircraft. The FAA operates a network of airport towers, air route traffic control centers and flight service stations across the country. The FAA also develops air traffic rules, assigns the use of airspace and controls air traffic.


The Canadian equivalent of the FAA is Transport Canada, the governmental department responsible for developing regulations, policies and services for transportation within Canada. Until 1996, Transport Canada was charged with responsibility for both regulation and the operation of air traffic services. In November 1996, these responsibilities were split: Transport Canada remains responsible for regulation, but a new regulated non-profit company, called Nav Canada, took over responsibility for all civilian air traffic services.

 

Q: Who handles airport security?

A: In the U.S., the Transportation Security Administration hyperlinked?(TSA) is responsible for aviation security, including the screening of passengers as well as carry-on and checked baggage.  TSA also establishes airport and airline regulations requiring the establishment of multi-layered security programs focusing on intelligence, infrastructure, personnel and technology. Airports are responsible for providing appropriate local or airport law enforcement to meet the federal requirements.


In Canada, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) came into force in April 2002. CATSA is a Crown corporation based in the National Capital Region. It reports to Parliament through the Minister of Transport.  CATSA’s mission is to protect the public by securing critical elements of the air transportation system as assigned by the government.

 

Q: Why do some airports have customs and immigration facilities and others do not?

A: Only airports with international flights have customs and immigration facilities.


Q: What is the nation’s oldest airport?

A: Occasionally disputed as the world’s oldest airport, College Park Airport in College Park, Maryland, near Washington, D.C., was established in 1909 by Wilbur Wright. It is generally agreed to as the world’s oldest continually operating airfield. Today it serves general aviation traffic.


In Canada, Edmonton City Centre Airport —the oldest city-owned airport in Canada — is located just north of downtown Edmonton and was established in 1929.

 

Q: How long are airport runways?

A: Airports runways vary in size depending on their purpose and usage, but generally range in length from 7,000 to 12,000 feet.


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