Regional AIrports, Territorial Connectivity, and Geopolitical Asymmetries: A Conceptual Framework

Regional airports play a fundamental role in territorial connectivity by linking peripheral and less accessible regions to national and international air transport networks. However, the literature lacks a consistent definition of regional airports, limiting comparative analyses and a broader understanding of their geographical and socioeconomic roles. This study conducts a semi-systematic review of 379 studies on regional, small, or secondary airports to trace the literature's evolution and identify key conceptual and thematic approaches. Only 14 studies provide explicit definitions, revealing substantial conceptual fragmentation across geographical, operational, functional, and traffic-related criteria. In response, the study proposes an integrative conceptual framework that considers these dimensions and supports a more consistent classification of regional airports across different territorial contexts. By clarifying the concept, the framework provides a foundation for future comparative research on the spatial distribution of airport infrastructure, regional accessibility, territorial connectivity, and air transport's contribution to regional development.