History of flight - Aviation Pioneers, Wright Brothers, Hot Air Balloons
By 1909 radical new monoplane designs had taken to the air, built and flown by men such as the French pioneers Robert Esnault-Pelterie and Louis Blériot, both ...
airports
During World War I several farsighted European entrepreneurs, emboldened by wartime progress in aviation, envisioned the possibilities of postwar airline travel. For many months after the war, normal rail travel in Europe remained problematic and irregular because of the shortage of passenger equipment and the destruction of tracks and bridges. In addition, chaotic political conditions in central and eastern Europe often disrupted schedules. The situation opened many possibilities for launching airline routes. Although few airfields existed, aircraft of the postwar era could and did use relatively short sod runways for years, meaning that locating suitable <anchor>airports</anchor> near most cities was not the formidable engineering challenge that emerged in subsequent decades. Characteristically, organizers of the first postwar airlines relied on stocks of inexpensive surplus military planes, especially bombers, such as the De Havilland DH-4, that could be modified to accommodate passengers and mail. Two basic types of piston engines powered the typical fabric-covered biplanes of the early postwar era. In-line engines, with cylinders aligned one behind the other or positioned in two banks in a V-type installation, required a radiator and the circulation of a liquid coolant. Radial engines, with cylinders arranged in a circle around the crankshaft, had numerous small fins on the cylinder that radiated heat to the passing airstream in order to keep the engine cool. These relatively straightforward piston-engine designs made long-range flights possible and opened a new era of passenger travel.
Airport | History, Design, Layout, & Facts | Britannica
Airport \| History, Design, Layout, & Facts \| Britannica

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[airport](https://www.britannica.com/technology/airport)

Table of Contents


- [Introduction](/technology/airport)

- [Evolution of airports](/technology/airport#ref72408)

- [Modern airports](/technology/airport#ref72409)



- [Site selection](/technology/airport/Site-selection)

  - [Aeronautical and environmental factors](/technology/airport/Site-selection#ref72411)

  - [The selection process](/technology/airport/Site-selection#ref72412)

- [Airfield layout and configuration](/technology/airport/Site-selection#ref72413)

  - [Operational requirements](/technology/airport/Site-selection#ref72414)

  - [Runway configurations](/technology/airport/Site-selection#ref72415)

- [Runway pavements](/technology/airport/Runway-pavements)

- [Navigational aids, lighting, and marking](/technology/airport/Navigational-aids-lighting-and-marking)

  - [Navigational aids](/technology/airport/Navigational-aids-lighting-and-marking#ref72418)

  - [Airfield lighting](/technology/airport/Navigational-aids-lighting-and-marking#ref72419)

  - [Runway markings](/technology/airport/Navigational-aids-lighting-and-marking#ref72420)

- [Air traffic control](/technology/airport/Air-traffic-control)

- [Passenger terminal layout and design](/technology/airport/Passenger-terminal-layout-and-design)

  - [Passenger requirements](/technology/airport/Passenger-terminal-layout-and-design#ref72423)

  - [Terminal designs](/technology/airport/Passenger-terminal-layout-and-design#ref72424)

    - [Open apron and linear designs](/technology/airport/Passenger-terminal-layout-and-design#ref129394)

    - [Pier and satellite designs](/technology/airport/Passenger-terminal-layout-and-design#ref129395)

    - [Transporter designs](/technology/airport/Passenger-terminal-layout-and-design#ref129396)

    - [Remote pier designs](/technology/airport/Passenger-terminal-layout-and-design#ref129397)

    - [Unit terminals](/technology/airport/Unit-terminals)

  - [The apron area](/technology/airport/Unit-terminals#ref72425)

  - [The design process](/technology/airport/Unit-terminals#ref72426)

- [Cargo facilities](/technology/airport/Cargo-facilities)

- [Links to local ground transportation](/technology/airport/Cargo-facilities#ref72428)

- [Airport capacity](/technology/airport/Cargo-facilities#ref72429)

- [Drainage](/technology/airport/Cargo-facilities#ref72430)

- [Noise](/technology/airport/Noise)

- [Airport security](/technology/airport/Airport-security)

[References & Edit History](https://www.britannica.com/technology/airport/additional-info) [Quick Facts & Related Topics](/facts/airport)

[Images & Videos](https://www.britannica.com/technology/airport/images-videos)

[![O'Hare International Airport](https://cdn.britannica.com/09/114709-004-1609416B/view-Chicago-OHare-International-Airport-snow-runways.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/09/114709-050-85C060DF/view-Chicago-OHare-International-Airport-snow-runways.jpg)[![Know how connecting flights contribute to the rapid growth in global connectivity](https://cdn.britannica.com/86/186386-138-80E44488/air-travel-connectivity.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](/video/186386/air-travel-connectivity)[![Passengers waiting at an airport baggage carousel for their bags to be delivered from the cargo hold of an airplane.](https://cdn.britannica.com/22/114722-004-852D0A79/Passengers-bags-airport-baggage-carousel-cargo-hold.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/22/114722-050-AD7BB2A2/Passengers-bags-airport-baggage-carousel-cargo-hold.jpg)[![Four runway configurations.](https://cdn.britannica.com/51/23951-004-B8530A9A/runway-configurations.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/51/23951-004-B8530A9A/runway-configurations.jpg)[![Four parallel runway configurations.](https://cdn.britannica.com/50/23950-004-D637E888/runway-configurations.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/50/23950-004-D637E888/runway-configurations.jpg)[![Boeing 747](https://cdn.britannica.com/23/114723-004-49195FC6/Boeing-747-runway-approach-lights-Amsterdam-Airport.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/23/114723-050-09F42220/Boeing-747-runway-approach-lights-Amsterdam-Airport.jpg)[![Interior view of an airport traffic control tower at dusk. The airport traffic control tower manages takeoffs and all movement within the airport's terminal control area.](https://cdn.britannica.com/11/114711-004-E573B03D/view-airport-traffic-control-tower-takeoffs-area.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/11/114711-050-B9EEEEC7/view-airport-traffic-control-tower-takeoffs-area.jpg)[![Dubai International Airport, Dubai, U.A.E.](https://cdn.britannica.com/90/99890-004-4DDED3B0/Dubai-International-Airport-United-Arab-Emirates.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/90/99890-050-77BBAA44/Dubai-International-Airport-United-Arab-Emirates.jpg)[![Eero Saarinen: interior of the TWA terminal at JFK International Airport](https://cdn.britannica.com/71/19671-004-792B26BC/Interior-TWA-terminal-use-New-York-City.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/71/19671-050-4158A9AB/Interior-TWA-terminal-use-New-York-City.jpg)[![Six design concepts for airline passenger terminals.](https://cdn.britannica.com/52/23952-004-6EF6DC02/design-concepts-airline-passenger-terminals.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/52/23952-004-6EF6DC02/design-concepts-airline-passenger-terminals.jpg)

For Students


[![A passenger jetliner taking off from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world.](https://cdn.britannica.com/77/114477-050-4191357E/Plane-on-takeoff-from-the-Amsterdam-Airport-international-airport.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/summary/airport)

[airport summary](/summary/airport)

Read Next


[![Passengers waiting in a row for boarding on an airport to a flight to America](https://cdn.britannica.com/46/194746-131-707A3E7A/Passengers-row-airport-flight-America.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/story/why-do-airlines-overbook-seats-on-flights)

[Why Do Airlines Overbook Seats on Flights?](/story/why-do-airlines-overbook-seats-on-flights)

Discover


[![A group of diverse individuals, who represent various occupations, stand with their arms raised in the air. labor day; laborers; construction worker; teacher; nurse; doctor; assistant; office staff; blue collar; workforce](https://cdn.britannica.com/40/239640-131-052DF02A/diverse-group-occupations-workforce.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/story/why-is-labor-day-celebrated-in-september)

[Why Is Labor Day Celebrated in September?](/story/why-is-labor-day-celebrated-in-september)

[![United States Electoral College votes by state](https://cdn.britannica.com/68/220368-131-C835E48E/United-States-electoral-college-votes-by-state.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/story/how-many-electoral-college-votes-does-each-us-state-have)

[How Many Electoral College Votes Does Each U.S. State Have?](/story/how-many-electoral-college-votes-does-each-us-state-have)

[![Clouds of smoke rise from fires at the World Trade Center Towers as a result of terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. Photographed 9:54 am in Lower Manhattan.](https://cdn.britannica.com/24/199824-131-8B2223A9/smoke-rise-Clouds-fires-result-terrorist-attack-September-11-2001.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/list/timeline-of-the-september-11-attacks)

[Timeline of the September 11 Attacks](/list/timeline-of-the-september-11-attacks)

[![Andrew Jackson delivering a speech while on his way to Washington, D.C., for his inauguration in 1829. From Harper's Weekly, 1881.](https://cdn.britannica.com/94/182194-131-A1441287/Andrew-Jackson-town-supporters-inauguration-way-1829.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/list/5-remarkably-close-us-presidential-elections)

[5 Remarkably Close U.S. Presidential Elections](/list/5-remarkably-close-us-presidential-elections)

[![President Kennedy address on Test Ban Treaty, White House, Oval Office, July 26, 1963. President John F. Kennedy, President Kennedy](https://cdn.britannica.com/46/146446-131-83C57663/John-F-Kennedy-Test-Ban-Treaty-Oval-July-26-1963.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/list/11-memorable-quotes-from-us-presidential-debates)

[11 Memorable Quotes from U.S. Presidential Debates](/list/11-memorable-quotes-from-us-presidential-debates)

[![Presidential Debate Bingo. As candidates for the Republican Party's nomination for the 2024 presidential election take to the stage to debate the issues and each other, keep track of the facts you need to know with updated Britannica entries. As with every Bingo game, if you connect five tiles in a row, celebrate!](https://cdn.britannica.com/66/249866-004-B67557FB/presidential-debate-bingo.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/story/presidential-debate-bingo)

[Presidential Debate Bingo](/story/presidential-debate-bingo)

[![King Cobra snake in Malaysia. (reptile)](https://cdn.britannica.com/68/152568-131-E6B869A4/King-cobra-world-snake.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/list/9-of-the-worlds-deadliest-snakes)

[9 of the World’s Deadliest Snakes](/list/9-of-the-worlds-deadliest-snakes)


Contents


[Technology](/browse/Technology)[Cars & Other Vehicles](/browse/Cars-Vehicles)

# airport



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Also known as: aerodrome, air terminal


Written by


[Norman J. Ashford\
\
Consultant Civil Engineer and Professor Emeritus of Transport Planning, Loughborough University of Technology, England. Coauthor of _Airport Engineering_ and others.](/contributor/Norman-J-Ashford/4155)

Norman J. Ashford

Fact-checked by

[The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica\
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Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.](/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419)

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated:

Sep 13, 2024
• [Article History](https://www.britannica.com/technology/airport/additional-info#history)


Table of Contents


[![O'Hare International Airport](https://cdn.britannica.com/09/114709-050-85C060DF/view-Chicago-OHare-International-Airport-snow-runways.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop)](https://cdn.britannica.com/09/114709-050-85C060DF/view-Chicago-OHare-International-Airport-snow-runways.jpg)

O'Hare International Airport

[See all media](https://www.britannica.com/technology/airport/images-videos)

Also called: air terminal, aerodrome, or airfield_(Show more)_

Key People: [Norman Foster](/biography/Lord-Norman-Foster)[Moshe Safdie](/biography/Moshe-Safdie)_(Show more)_

Related Topics: [runway](/technology/runway)[taxiway](/technology/taxiway)[landside facility](/technology/landside-facility)[hangar](/technology/hangar)[apron](/technology/apron-airport)_(Show more)_

[See all related content →](/facts/airport)

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**airport**, site and installation for the takeoff and landing of aircraft. An airport usually has paved runways and maintenance facilities and serves as a terminal for passengers and cargo.

The requirements for airports have increased in complexity and scale since the earliest days of flying. Before World War II the landing and takeoff distance of most passenger-transport aircraft was at most 600 metres (2,000 feet). Additional clear areas were provided for blind landings or bad-weather runs, but the total area involved rarely exceeded 500 acres (200 hectares).
It was not until the general introduction of heavy monoplanes for transport, such ...(100 of 7757 words)

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