The world’s leading ‘secondary’ large city airports – are there similarities & synergies? Part two

It is the world's primary hub airports which catch the attention and the imagination.

They are the ones that are recognised as the 'gateway' to and from a country, as if others did not exist. Primary hub airports tend to be regarded as glamorous, and have TV programmes made about them.

But in the background are many examples of 'second' city airports, some of which carry very significant amounts of freight and passengers, but which go unrecognised.

This three-part report lists the Top 10 as far as can be ascertained by passenger numbers in 2023, with a short portrait of each one.

The report also briefly touches on the similarities between them and asks if any synergies can be identified and used, by way of research, to improve the passenger experience.

Part one features the introduction and a look at Newark Liberty, Shanghai Hongqiao and London Gatwick airports; part two will look at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen, Tokyo Narita, Beijing Daxing, and Paris Orly airports; and part three will look at Bangkok Don Mueang, Seoul Gimpo, and São Paulo Congonhas airports, as well as sharing some concluding views.