Government owned airports worldwide

A few days ago, I posted a story about the world's busiest single runway airports. Then that got me thinking, who owns the airports around the world and how many government owned.

Many major airports worldwide are owned by national, regional, or local governments. These airports are either managed directly through government ministries or operated by state-owned enterprises. Although a global trend toward privatization continues, substantial government ownership persists—particularly across Asia, Africa, and parts of Europe.

Below is a list of prominent government-owned or majority government-owned airport operators and their primary hub airports:

Major Government-Owned Airport Operators 

• Airports Authority of India (AAI): Owns and operates the majority of airports in India (approx. 100+), including Chennai, Kolkata, and Pune.

• Airports Company South Africa (ACSA): Owns/operates 9 airports, including Johannesburg (O.R. Tambo), Cape Town, and Durban.

• Avinor (Norway): State-owned company operating 44 airports, including Oslo Gardermoen.

• Aena (Spain): 51% owned by the Spanish government (ENAIRE). Operates 46 airports, including Madrid-Barajas, Barcelona-El Prat, and Palma de Mallorca.

• Airports of Thailand (AoT): State-owned public company operating Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and others.

• Groupe ADP (France): Majority (50.6%) state-owned. Operates Paris Charles de Gaulle, Orly, and Le Bourget.

• Royal Schiphol Group (Netherlands): 92% government owned. Operates Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

• Fraport (Germany): Majority owned by the state of Hesse, city of Frankfurt, and government-owned banks. Operates Frankfurt Airport.

• Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK): Fully owned by the Hong Kong SAR Government.

• Incheon International Airport Corporation (South Korea): Owned by the South Korean government.

• Iran Airports Company: Operates most civil airports in Iran.

• Israel Airports Authority: Operates Ben Gurion International Airport and others.

• Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares (ASA) (Mexico): Federal agency operating numerous regional airports.

• Infraero (Brazil): Government company managing regional airports.

• Singapore Changi Airport: Owned by the Government of Singapore.

Government-Owned Airports by Region 

Canada: 

While many large airports are managed by local authorities, many smaller, regional, and remote airports are owned directly by Transport Canada, such as Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Waskaganish.

USA: 

Most U.S. airports are publicly owned by municipal or state governments (e.g., city or county), even if they are operated by private companies. Examples include LAX, JFK (via Port Authority of NY & NJ), and Chicago O'Hare.

Australia: 

Major gateways (Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, Melbourne) are leased from the Commonwealth government to private consortiums, but the land remains under government ownership.

Egypt: 

Most international airports are managed by the government, including Cairo International (CAI), Sharm El Sheikh (SSH), and Luxor (LXR).

Qatar:

Hamad International Airport is operated by Qatar Airways Group, which is state-owned.

UAE: 

Dubai Airports Company operates Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum (DWC).