Airports are vital infrastructures that not only connect cities to global destinations but also serve as crucial hubs within their regions. The relationship between an airport and its city is multifaceted, affecting economic development, transportation and urban planning. In the context of multimodality and the seamless integration of various transportation modes, the airport’s role becomes even more significant, especially for cities located at the heart of their regions. This evolution brings not only climate benefits but also new opportunities for economic growth, industrial development and regional resilience. This presentation explains what we can learn from China, where airports function as mega multimodal hubs, tightly integrated with high-speed rail and planned as regional engines compared with Europe, where airports are integrated with national rail networks, and the USA, where airports are major economic zones but remain primarily highway-dependent, with limited rail multimodality compared with China or Europe. Not forgetting Africa and South America, where infrastructure is not yet supporting connectivity at its best.

• Practical strategies for cities and regions to improve airport multimodality
• Best practices in planning, operational integration and sustainability
• Different governance and funding models to shape airport connectivity and integration