質問: So my flashcards say 飛行場【ひこうじょう】 means airport. But actual airports in Japan always use 空港【くうこう】, like 成田【なりた】空港【くうこう】. What are the differences between these? And in what situations (if any) would I want to use 飛行場【ひこうじょう】 over 空港【くうこう】?
回答: 飛行場 refers to a small local airport with a short runway, often with no regular commercial airline service. It is mostly for private use of small-size aircrafts. 空港 refers to a larger airport with longer runways that serves the general public. Some (but not many) native speakers use the two words interchangeably in informal conversations.