Aerotropolises

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of urban center designed around an airport, incorporating various economic, commercial, and logistics functions into a cohesive environment
2. An urban development model that integrates transport infrastructure, particularly airports, to boost economic activity and connectivity
3. A city or urban area that emphasizes proximity to airport facilities, enhancing access for businesses and travelers in a synergistic landscape

Etymology: "Aerotropolises" is the plural of "aerotropolis," a blend of "aero-," from Greek "aēr" meaning air, and "metropolis," from Greek "mētropolis" meaning mother city. The combination describes a city built around an airport, where the airport's runways and terminals drive the growth of offices, warehouses, hotels and industry nearby. The term was popularised by the American urban planner John Kasarda, who argued that as air freight and business travel expanded, airports would become the central organising feature of new urban regions rather than simply transport facilities on the edge of towns. The compound reflects that idea: an "aero" core with a metropolitan sprawl radiating from it.

Synonyms: airport cities, aviation hubs, aerodromes, flight centers