In recent years, economists have belatedly addressed the economics of airports. Previously, airports were somewhat neglected, as both a relatively minor part of government and a relatively unimportant part of the air transport journey. The public view of the glamour of air travel reflected on the airlines, management and flight crews alike, but not on airports. The heads of state airlines became national figures in the media as did their opponents in the private sector, from Sir Freddy Laker to Michael O'Leary of Ryanair, the author’s former student and chief executive of...