Empirical Examination of Food Safety Governance, Cognitive Biases, and Training Translation Disparities Across High-Volume Metropolitan and Regional Aviation Gateways

International airports function as primary frontlines for global public health security and foodborne disease containment. Under the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005), designated points of entry must maintain permanent sanitary capacities. This study empirically evaluated and compared food safety Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) among airport food handlers at Nigeria's primary metropolitan aviation hub and an emerging regional gateway.A cross-sectional comparative design was conducted between September 2024 and June 2026 across Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA, Lagos; n=38) and General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport (GTIIA, Ilorin; n=55) (N=93). Data were collected using a validated 74-item structured KAP questionnaire (Cronbach's α = 0.81–0.88). Inferential analyses utilized Welch's t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and Chi-square tests at p < 0.05.Food handlers at MMIA achieved a significantly higher composite KAP score (85.49% ± 3.32%) than those at GTIIA (73.67% ± 4.26%; t = 15.01, p < 0.001). While positive attitudes were high at both airports (MMIA: 86.1%, GTIIA: 83.7%), a severe knowledge-to-practice gap was identified at the regional gateway. 100.0% of GTIIA food handlers fell strictly into the 'Moderate' practice bracket, with zero workers reaching 'Good' compliance (≥80%), compared to 78.9% 'Good' practice compliance at MMIA. This operational collapse was driven by systemic training access gaps (63.6% lacking airport-specific Port Health training at GTIIA) and cognitive 'false optimism' bias.Positive hygiene attitudes and theoretical knowledge do not automatically translate into safe food handling in regional aviation canteens. Bridging this compliance gap requires Port Health Services to enforce mandatory behavioral simulation drills, infrastructure hardware upgrades, and unannounced multi-item checklist audits with public placards.