One of the difficulties in developing transport policy is that transport is too often treated as an end in its own right and in this context air transport emerges on many measures as a relatively small contributor to the overall transportation system. Air transport, like other modes, is essentially a facilitator of trade and mobility, an important input into most forms of economic growth, and can act as a means for fostering social and political integration. The sections of this paper are as follows: Introduction; Air transport; Airports and air service networks; The modern role of airports; Trends in airport provision and implications for international economic integration; and Conclusions. For the covering abstract see ITRD E141216.
Abstract