Privately owned and operated airports are prominent examples of companies running traditionally public infrastructure. As of 2020, nearly 20 percent of the world's airports had been privatized.

Yes, an airport can be privately owned, and this model is becoming increasingly common worldwide. While many major international hubs are owned by government entities or quasi-public authorities, several are fully or partially privatized. For example, London Heathrow and London Gatwick are owned by private consortia (including sovereign wealth funds and private equity firms). In some cases, a private individual or corporation may own a "greenfield" airport, which is built from scratch on private land. There are also thousands of small, private airfields—often called "pavilions" or "strips"—owned by individuals for personal use. In the United States, most commercial airports are publicly owned but "privately operated" through long-term lease agreements. However, the federal "Airport Privatization Pilot Program" allows for a small number of public airports to be fully sold or leased to private companies. Private ownership can lead to more efficient management and faster infrastructure upgrades, but it often raises concerns regarding higher user fees and a focus on profit over public service.