Final answer:
Airports differ from typical government agencies because they generate income through user fees and concessions, operating more like private firms which influences their focus on efficiency and customer service.
Step-by-step explanation:
Airports are different from typical government agencies because D) they generate revenue through user fees and concessions. Unlike government agencies which primarily rely on tax dollars without facing market competition, airports operate similarly to private companies.
They are involved in the development of civil airline infrastructure and facilitate commercial passenger air traffic by efficiently handling boarding and luggage. This generates revenue, and as such, they can justify increased spending on airport and air traffic control improvements because it fosters greater economic growth.
In contrast, traditional government agencies do not sell products or services in a competitive market but receive funding through taxation and are not at risk of going bankrupt due to poor performance in the same way a private business would be.
The way airports and government agencies raise revenue impacts their operational decisions. Since airports earn through user fees and sales from concessions, they face financial pressure to innovate and be customer-friendly. Conversely, government agencies funded through taxes can be more insulated from such competitive pressures.