The first airport was built at College Park Maryland, USA in 1909. Since the initial construction of that structure the number of airports worldwide has grown to over 40,000. These facilities served over 8.7 billion passengers and handled over 102 million tonnes of cargo in 2023. Airports stimulate economic growth by creating direct, indirect and induced job opportunities and facilitating tourism and trade.The presence of a functioning airport is therefore a key component of regional development, however most of the literature on regional development fails to include this vital growth determinant. This volume contributes to the literature on regional development by examining the economic effect of airports on regional growth. Chapter contributions have an international focus with analyses including examination of regional development in Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Western Europe, North America, as well as regional development in rural areas. Chapters also recognize the external costs associated with the growth in airport operations. These chapters on external costs will provide an international appraisal of the need for carbon-neutrality and sustainability.Airports and Regional Development provides a holistic approach toward the analysis of airports and regional development.
