The role and operation of airports

Question 1

What is an airport?

Answer 1

Complex industrial enterprise that are a medium by which activities are brought together to facilitate the interchange between air and surface transport (for both passengers and freight)

Question 2

What are the three services and facilities provided by an airport?

Answer 2

1. Essential operational services
2. Traffic-handling services
3. Commercial activities

Question 3

What are the essential operational services?

Answer 3

Concerned with ensuring safety of aircraft and passengers and includes:
*ATC
*Meteorological services
*Telecommunications
*Police and security
*Fire and ambulance services
*Runway and building maintenance

Question 4

What are the traffic handling services?

Answer 4

Direct and indirect traffic handling activities:
Direct aircraft activities:
*Cleaning
*Power provision - refueling
*Loading and unloading of baggage

Indirect aircraft activities:
*Processing of passengers
*Baggage handling
*Processing of freight through terminals onto aircraft

Question 5

What are the commercial activities?

Answer 5

They are provided by concessionaires. Airport authorities collect concession fees or rents from these companies. Includes stores, cinemas, bowling alleys, supermarkets

Question 6

List the four patterns of ownership of airports

Answer 6

1. Public ownership with direct government control
2. Public ownership through an airport authority
3. Mixed public and private ownership
4. Private ownership

Question 7

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using an airport authority?

Answer 7

Advantages:
1. Minimises risk of cartels or monopolies
2. Limits unfair granting of access rights
3. Assures fairer tarrifs and prices
4. More equitable awarding of time slots
5. Additional income for governments

Disadvantages:
1. Can be financially unstable if there is political interference
2. Can negatively impact tourism through inflated costs
3. Objectives may not align with country objectives
4. Can lead to government dependency if financially unstable

Question 8

What are the sources of airport revenue?

Answer 8

Aeronautical and non-aeronautical activities

Question 9

What are the aeronautical sources of revenue?

Answer 9

1. Aircraft landing fees
2. Passenger-service charges
3. Air-traffic-control charges
4. Aircraft parking and hanger fees
5. Charges for handling and cleaning of aircraft

Question 10

What are the non-aeronautical sources of revenue?

Answer 10

1. Rent for office and check-in space
2. Income from shopping concessions
3. Carpark
4. Amenities charges
5. Catering revenue