Similar challenge I had when explaining the Internet and TCP/IP to the non networking people like upper management 30+ years ago

Never used the airport analogy, but I used the US postal mail service as an analogy and examples (TCP/IP added to the analogy)

Bitcoin Lightning: The US Postal Service Analogy

Mail Box/Local Mail Distribution center = Bitcoin/Lightning node = Home router or ISP router

Route/Priority mail = Lightning channel = Route/High priority route

Letter/Envelope = Channel capacity = Packet

Content of the letter = Bitcoin = Data in packet