An airport is an aerodrome equipped with extended facilities primarily designed for commercial air transport. These locations consist of a landing area, which includes at least one operationally active surface such as a runway for aircraft takeoff and landing or a helipad. They often feature adjacent utility buildings, including hangars, terminals, and control towers, to monitor and maintain aircraft.
Larger airports may include additional infrastructure such as taxiway bridges, airport aprons, air traffic control centres, and emergency services. Passenger facilities, such as lounges and restaurants, are also common features of these sites. In the United States specifically, airports typically host one or more fixed-base operators to serve general aviation.