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About The Changing Role of Airports Reading Passage
This passage examines how airports have evolved from simple facilities for aircraft operations into complex commercial environments. It discusses the economic pressures that led airports to develop retail and hospitality services, and explores the strategies used by airports in the UK, USA, and elsewhere to increase non-aeronautical revenue. The source is Cambridge IELTS 15, Academic Test 1, Passage 3.
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1–14, which are based on the passage below.
The passage contains three question types: True/False/Not Given (Questions 1–7), Matching Features (Questions 8–13), and Sentence Completion (Question 14).
The Changing Role of Airports : Full Reading Passage
Paragraph A
Not long ago, airports were purely functional environments, places to pass through rather than to spend time in. Passengers moved from check-in to gate as quickly as possible, and airports generated income almost entirely from landing fees paid by airlines. That model began to change in the 1980s when governments started to privatise airports. As profit-oriented companies took over management, airports discovered that their captive audience of passengers offered a significant commercial opportunity.
Paragraph B
The pioneer of the modern airport-as-shopping-centre concept was BAA, the British company that owned and operated seven UK airports, including Heathrow. BAA recognised that passengers waiting in departure lounges had little else to do but shop, and it set about designing terminals with retail space at their heart. Other airports followed BAA's lead, and today retail and food services account for a major share of income at most large airports. At Heathrow, non-aeronautical revenue income not directly connected with aircraft operations has grown to exceed aeronautical revenue.
Paragraph C
The commercial transformation of airports has not been without controversy. Critics point out that airports, particularly large hub airports, hold a near-monopoly position over passengers. A traveller at Heathrow who wants a coffee has no choice but to pay whatever price is charged, since leaving the terminal to find a cheaper alternative is not an option. Airport retailers, critics argue, exploit this captive market by charging prices well above those on the high street. Airports counter that they offer convenience and a wide range of options, and that competitive tendering among retail operators keeps prices in check.
Paragraph D
In the United States, the development of airport retail was slower than in the UK. American airports were owned and operated by local government bodies, typically city or county authorities, who were less focused on commercial revenue than private operators. Regulation also played a role: US airports were subject to rules that limited the rents they could charge commercial tenants. The situation changed in the 1990s as federal policy shifted to encourage airports to become more self-sufficient. Airports began to recruit experienced retail managers from the private sector and to redesign terminal spaces with shopping in mind.
Paragraph E
The most successful airports have come to think of themselves less as transport hubs and more as shopping destinations that happen to have runways. Singapore's Changi Airport, which has consistently been rated the world's best airport, offers an extraordinary range of retail and leisure facilities: a butterfly garden, a rooftop swimming pool, a cinema, and hundreds of shops and restaurants. Management at Changi acknowledges that for many travellers, the airport experience is part of the appeal of flying through Singapore. The aim is to make the airport itself a reason to visit, not merely a point of transit. In this model, retail is not an optional extra – it is central to the airport's identity and financial strategy.
Paragraph F
There are signs that the airport-as-shopping-mall model is beginning to reach its limits. Some studies suggest that younger travellers, accustomed to comparing prices online and having goods delivered to their door, are less willing than previous generations to pay airport premiums. At the same time, stricter security measures have extended the time passengers spend in secure areas, which initially boosted retail sales but may now be generating a sense of fatigue among frequent flyers. Some airports are responding by focusing on experience rather than transactions – offering art installations, live music, and wellness facilities in an effort to maintain passenger engagement without relying solely on shops.
The Changing Role of Airports Reading Questions and Answers
Questions 1–7 : True/False/Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage? In boxes 1–7 on your answer sheet, write:
TRUE — if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE — if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN — if there is no information on this
1.Before the 1980s, airports earned most of their income from fees charged to airlines.
2. BAA was the first company to own airports in both the UK and the USA.
3. The prices of food and drinks at Heathrow Airport have been officially investigated by a consumer watchdog.
4. Some people argue that passengers at large hub airports have no real choice about where they shop.
5. American airports were quicker than UK airports to develop retail facilities.
6. Changi Airport earns more income from retail than any other airport in the world.
7. Some research indicates that younger travellers may be less likely to buy goods at airport prices.
Questions 8–13 : Matching Features
Match each statement with the correct airport or region, A, B, or C.
List of airports/regions:
- A: Heathrow Airport
- B: US airports
- C: Changi Airport
8. Offers a garden where passengers can see live butterflies
9. Earns more money from non-aeronautical sources than from aviation-related fees
10. Was historically limited by regulations on how much rent it could charge to shops
11. Is described as a destination that passengers may visit specifically for the airport experience
12. Was among the first airports to put retail space at the centre of its terminal design
13. Changed its approach to retail after federal policy encouraged airports to be more financially independent
Question 14 : Sentence Completion
Complete the sentence below. Choose NO MORE THAN ONE WORD from the passage.
14. According to the passage, at Changi Airport _______ is not an optional extra but is central to the airport's identity and financial strategy.
