Here's why it's funny:
* It's nonsensical: The question is absurd, as airspeed is a measure of speed, not a characteristic of a bird.
* It plays on the absurdity of the movie: The movie is full of ridiculous situations and jokes, so this question fits right in.
* It highlights the humor of a seemingly important question: The characters in the movie act as though the question is serious, making the absurdity even funnier.
So, while we can't give you a real answer to the airspeed of a swallow, hopefully this explanation gives you a chuckle!