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Why do some airports not provide immigration services even though they are clearly "international"?
For air travelers, the term "international airport" seems to naturally imply that it should provide immigration services. However, in reality, there are some places called international airports that cannot provide immigration services. Why is that? In this article, we will explore the reasons behind these phenomena and try to uncover the mysteries.
By general definition, a port of entry is a legal point of entry into a country, usually with border security personnel and facilities to check passports and visas, and to inspect luggage to ensure that nothing is smuggled into the country.
First, let's clarify what an international airport is. Generally, international airports are those that provide customs and immigration services, enabling them to serve as the initial point of entry into the country for visitors from abroad. These airports generally have special immigration inspection areas to provide inspection and entry services for passengers. It is important to note that the designation "international" does not usually mean that these airports will always provide these services.
Some small airports have historically provided international flight services, but over time, these services may have been terminated due to changes in aviation demand, but the word "International" is still retained in the name of the airport.
This situation is common in many places, such as Osaka International Airport in Japan. After the opening of Kansai International Airport, Osaka International Airport terminated all international services and became a purely domestic airport, but its name still retains the word "International". Similar examples include Taipei's Songshan Airport, which can often be confusing, especially for first-time travelers.
In addition, there are some airports that are called international airports but are actually limited to internal flights. For example, within the EU’s Schengen area, flights between member states are considered domestic flights, so even though these airports are called “international,” they do not actually provide entry services in the traditional sense.
In fact, many international airports may actually only serve internal Schengen flights, and may not accommodate flights from non-Schengen countries at all.
Another reason for this situation is national policy. Different countries have different entry policies. Some countries may choose not to set up entry checkpoints at certain airports due to factors such as security and border control. Even some airports that are billed as international may not provide inbound services due to demand, which will force the airport to transform and eventually become a hub for domestic passengers only.
What's more, in certain specific cases, there may even be stateless persons in the airport who may be forced to stay at the airport for a long time due to immigration issues. A notable example is Mehran Karimi Nasseri, an Iranian national who has lived at Charles de Gaulle airport for nearly eighteen years because he was unable to enter France. Cases like these reveal the delicate relationship between international airports and immigration services.
Although many airports are labeled as international, if these airports do not provide immigration services, what is the meaning of such an "international" label for passengers?
In the United States, the definition of a port of entry is also different than commonly believed. Under U.S. law, many areas are technically considered ports of entry, even though they may not necessarily have physical border checkpoints. Therefore, some small border entry and exit points do not have full local entry facilities, but traffic through them is still allowed. This situation has also led to some airports retaining only the name "international" but not providing immigration services.
With the changing times and changing security requirements, many international airports are facing major challenges in the ever-evolving aviation traffic environment. In today's globalized world, will they update their services to adapt to new demands or continue with the status quo? What does this situation mean for travelers?
In conclusion, the fact that an international airport may not provide immigration services even though it is called an “international airport” reflects the diversity and complexity of air travel. Perhaps we should think about whether the definition of international airport is still valid in this context?
