Starports are a key piece of the economic infrastructure found throughout the galaxy and are often seen as the mark of legitimacy or civilization for any city or outpost. Similar to landing pads, starports are facilities specially designed to house and repair starships. The difference is not in function but in scale. Starports are typically rather large, with a myriad of differently sized berths and hangars to accommodate the wide variety of starships that may visit. Independent freighter captains, corporations, planetary defense militias, and private citizens alike can lease or rent space for their ships and cargo, purchase fuel and supplies, exchange currency, and even hire mechanics, translators, pilots, and more.

Starports also serve as the commercial gateways to a world, boasting massive cargo and material storage capacity, as well as the necessary customs and excise facilities needed to clear, screen, and tax cargos going offworld or landing on the planet. At any given time, the amount of wealth tied up in a starport can be astronomical. Starports also provide a great number of employment opportunities. For these reasons, starports can become the beating hearts of their cities, serving not only pilots and their crews but the whole community.