- A civil airport is an airport that is open to the public and primarily used for civilian purposes, such as commercial flights, private aviation, and general aviation. These airports are designed to accommodate a wide range of aircraft sizes and provide facilities for passengers, including terminals with check-in counters, gates, baggage claim areas, and parking lots. Civil airports often have control towers to ensure safe and efficient air traffic control operations. Some examples of well-known civil airports include John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Heathrow Airport in London, and Dubai International Airport in Dubai.