Released on 19 May 1978 by Virgin Records,[3] the song reached number four on the UK Singles Chart.

[1][4][5] On 1 July 1978, the single was awarded a silver certification by the BPI in the UK for sales of over 250,000 units.

After the release of their 1977 debut album 1, the Motors moved away from their pub rock sound to a new wave style with synthesizers (most prominent on tracks McMaster had previously written) and recognisable melodies.

[7] Reviewing the group's 1981 greatest hits compilation, Lance Philips (in the Rough Guide to Rock) describes "Airport" as "naturally stand[ing] out" and that the "rest doesn't quite match up".

[8] The encyclopedia suggests that the song's popularity did nothing to extend the life of the band, whose membership changed by the end of the year.