It's a common unofficial term that is very much in use at airports throughout the U.S. and Canada. However, it's not the official designation. The use of ramp has its roots in airports that serve both seaplanes and traditional airplanes as a literal ramp from the water to the airfield.

In aviation, a runway is actually not the same thing as a ramp, and calling a runway a ramp is a common misnomer. The ramp (also known as the "apron" in international terms) is the paved area where aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, refueled, or boarded. The name "ramp" is a historical carryover from the era of seaplanes; early flying boats had to be hauled out of the water and up a physical ramp to be serviced on land. Over time, the term stuck and transitioned to land-based airports to describe the tarmac area near the gates or hangars. A runway, by contrast, is a strictly defined path used exclusively for takeoffs and landings. For 2026 travelers, a high-value "pro-tip" is that if you hear a pilot mention "ramp congestion," it means there is a backup at the gates or parking stands, which is a different logistical problem than a "runway delay," which typically relates to air traffic control or weather-related spacing between departing and arriving aircraft.