In the terminology of aviation and airport management, the "three sides" of an airport refer to the distinct operational zones: Landside, Terminal, and Airside. 1. Landside is the public-access area that includes parking lots, public transport links, and the "curbside" drop-off zones; essentially anywhere someone can go without a ticket. 2. The Terminal is the transitional zone where passengers check in, drop their bags, and pass through security; it acts as the interface between the public and restricted areas. 3. Airside is the highly secured area past the security checkpoints, including the gates, duty-free shops, the "apron" (where planes park), and the runways. In 2026, the distinction between these zones is more pronounced than ever, with Airside zones utilizing advanced biometric tracking, while Landside zones focus on seamless integration with autonomous ground transport and high-speed rail links.
The Transportation Security Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security that has authority over the security of transportation systems within, and connecting to the United States.
The International Air Transport Association is a trade association of the world's airlines founded in 1945. IATA has been described as a cartel since, in addition to setting technical standards for airlines, IATA also organized tariff conferences that served as a forum for price fixing.