Recently, the trend of urban development according to the airport city model (aerotropolis) has been increasingly focused on by many countries around the world because of the potential benefits it brings.
This concept was initially supported by Mr. John Kasarda - Director of the Aviation Commercial Center at the University of North Carolina (USA) and author of the book "Airport City: New Lifeomy" (Aerotropolis: The Way Well Live Next).
According to Kasarda's definition, an airport city is an area with infrastructure, land use and economy centered on one airport.
He also said that in the past, cities were mainly destinations, while airports were just departures. But in the future, airports will become destinations, while cities are just places for people to depart, as residents and workers increasingly move to airport cities around the world.
Kasarda's vision seems to be further strengthened after the International Air Transport Association (IATA) predicted that by 2034, global passenger traffic could increase to about 14 billion people and global air traffic is expected to increase nearly 3 times.
This type of living space mainly focuses on creating business and retail opportunities, with some areas reserved for residential and entertainment areas. A common feature of cities built according to the airport city model is that they have urban infrastructure and modern connectivity.
Airport cities are still thriving around the world, creating modern and dynamic urban centers around major airports. Each model has its own unique characteristics, expressing diversity in how to take advantage of aviation connectivity advantages.
For example, in Amsterdam, the Zuidas financial and business district has developed into an indispensable part of the Dutch capital.
Thanks to its strategic location between the city center and Schiphol Airport, Zuidas is not only a gathering place for hundreds of large companies but is also expanding residential areas and utilities, towards a full living, working and entertainment space.
Meanwhile, in Korea, Songdo International Business Zone stands out as a pioneering "smart city", built on reclaimed land and quickly connected to Incheon International Airport.
Songdo is planned as a high-tech and commercial center, attracting foreign investment thanks to special incentives and modern infrastructure, from a smart control system to a large green space.
In South Africa, the airport city model is also being realized with the Riverfields project in the Ekurhuleni Autonomous Area.
This project takes advantage of its location near Tambo International Airport to turn the area into a sustainable urban center, promising to attract international investment and promote economic and social development. This is considered an effort to create the first airport city in Africa.
In Finland, the Aviapolis area near Helsinki Airport is one of the most advanced examples in Europe of developing an airport city.
Aviapolis is not only a leading business and employment center but also has a strong development in population, with a convenient transportation system and a series of entertainment and shopping amenities. The outstanding connection makes it easy for residents to move to other major cities in the world.
In general, these airport city models all demonstrate the trend of integrating airports into urban development, creating dynamic economic ecosystems and bringing many new opportunities on a global scale.
