Airlines secure gates through three primary methods: long-term leases, "preferential use" agreements, or common-use arrangements. At major hubs (like Delta in Atlanta), the airline enters into multi-decade leases with the airport authority, giving them exclusive control over specific terminals and gates. In exchange, the airline often helps fund airport expansions. For smaller airlines or those with fewer flights, airports offer "common-use" gates, which are shared among multiple carriers and assigned by the airport’s operations team on a flight-by-flight basis. In 2026, many airports use "AI-driven gate management software" to maximize efficiency, allowing them to squeeze more flights into existing infrastructure. At "slot-controlled" airports (like London Heathrow or NYC’s JFK), an airline must also own a "slot" (the right to land or take off) before they can even request a gate to park at.