Over the past half-century, airports have progressed from being stark airfields with military-like hangars to modern day centres of commerce. Airports have become key economic development drivers for regions and countries around the world. Retailing and other consumer services have become important revenue generators, alongside the core business of air transport. Securing airports and flights from criminal and terrorist actions has become a major pre-occupation of airport administrators, governments and key supra-national organisations, such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation – EUROCONTROL.

The two main objectives of this report are to provide an overview of the current state of airports around the world, with an emphasis on security issues. Growth trends in passenger movement and cargo transport are summarised and the biggest airports are ranked by several different criteria. Airport management is examined from the point of view of revenue diversification, as well as costs.

Owner/operator trends and the economic impact of airports, as well as environmental issues, are also studied. A summary of airport development projects by region worldwide has also been provided.

Regarding security, the mains themes include passenger and baggage screening, national and international regulatory requirements, human resource issues and dealing with traveller disruption caused by the increase in security procedures. The impact of technological evolution, particularly in the area of biometrics, as well as the development of registered passenger schemes on solving the problems created by enhanced security at airports has also been evaluated.