ABSTRACT
This chapter gives an insight into the function of airports as the link between the fl ights and the markets and looks at the varied range of airports around the world with a few detailed examples. There are 8,707 International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)–designated airports throughout the world. Most of these are very small regional airports that support local and regional traffi c, but little or no cargo except for some mail. It is diffi cult to qualify what is a signifi cant airport in terms of cargo, as in some instances, like a subtropical country exporting seasonal fruit, cargo might well be the main traffi c. Most airports handle some postal traffi c in addition to passengers.
