WAIS 001 · OPEN ACCESS · PDF · 64 PAGES · 8 CHAPTERS
Airport Functional Classification
Vadim Stepanov 2026
A functional framework for classifying airports according to the primary role they perform within the aviation system.
7
APPLIED TYPES
3
RESERVED CATEGORIES
ABOUT THE PUBLICATION
Airport Functional Classification introduces the WAIS framework for classifying airports according to their primary function within the aviation system. Rather than ranking airports by traffic volume or infrastructure size, the classification identifies the different roles airports perform within aviation networks and geographic systems.
The publication defines seven applied functional airport types and four reserved categories, establishes the principles used to assign a Primary Airport Function, and provides a common framework for comparing airports across countries and regions.
EXPLORE THE CLASSIFICATION
The WAIS Airport Functional Classification is also available as a concise online reference, providing definitions of the seven applied airport types, reserved categories and the core principles of the classification system.
RELATED INSIGHT
AIRPORT CLASSIFICATION
Beyond Size: Why Airports Need Functional Classification
Passenger traffic measures airport scale, but not airport function. This insight explains why WAIS classifies airports according to the roles they perform within the aviation system.
